The Most Difficult Way
Additions to Work on – Part 3

Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 1:3-11

Key Verse: 2 Peter 1:8

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As we continue looking at the qualities needed to truly love as Christ wants us to, we come to the fifth quality: godliness.  The Greek word “eusebeia” literally means reverence or respect, especially used when referring to God.  This quality, when added to our lives, gives us the motivation to keep loving people that seem so undeserving.  Christ followers do this out of reverence for God.  We love people in Jesus’ name, not because we want to.

All of us are human enough that when faced with a person who is foul mouthed and mean spirited, we don’t want to love them, especially if their meanness is directed at us!  Why do we try hard to react with a kindness?  Because we have a deep reverence for God and His word.  For serious believers, if the Bible tells us to do something, we do our best to obey.

The sixth quality Peter listed is brotherly kindness.  It won’t surprise you that the Greek word Peter used was “philadelphia.”  This quality treats the person in front of you with kindness and an awareness that Christ died for this person.  It does not matter whether we think they are deserving of it or not, Christ died for the entire world.  You and I have never looked into the eyes of a person who isn’t deeply loved by God.  That fact must keep us focused on loving them as well!

Father, these six qualities add up to your love showing up in me!  I will daily determine to practice them.  In Jesus’ name, amen.