So don’t lose a minute in building what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with... reverent wonder, warm friendliness and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. 2 Peter 1: 6(b) – 7 [The Message]
Today we’ll look at the last three qualities which can help our faith to grow.
The first of these is reverent wonder (godliness in the NIV). The Greek word Peter uses (eusebeia) meant ‘religion’ in popular pagan language. Here, it means a true respect for God in every area of our lives. We mature as Christians as we grow in our devotion to the Lord.
Next comes warm friendliness (brotherly kindness NIV). Real affection for our brothers and sisters in Christ is vital to our own growth as Christians – and will help theirs, too! Although there are many differences between us – class, race, culture, and denomination – we need to support each other and show genuine kindness. And like all the other qualities that Peter mentions, we must work at it.
And so finally we come to generous love, the goal of Christian discipleship, and the fruit of Christian maturity. Love is a deliberate desire for the highest good of the one loved; and it shows itself in sacrificial action for that person’s good. That is the kind of love which God showed us in the death of Jesus. It is the kind of love which he wants us to show to each other.
God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5: 8 [NIV]
Lord, please help me to love others as you love me.
David Long
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