God has provided us with everything we need for both life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3, NKJV). More than that, God has provided us with the hope of eternal life (2 Pet. 1:4). Believing that God has provided us with the means to live a pleasing life on this earth and to someday receive our eternal reward is merely just the beginning. “Giving all diligence,” Peter says we as believers are to “add to [our] faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love” (2 Pet. 1:5-7). As we develop and mature in our faith, it will be evidenced through our morality, understanding, the way we act, our ability to endure, our desire to look more like God, the way we treat one another, and ultimately through the way we love.
Love is a small word as far as letters are concerned, but it is a big word where meaning is concerned. Love is more than just a word. Love is a choice, it is continual action, and it is enduring. Biblically speaking, the specific word used by Peter in this context for love is agape. This type of love is a love that cares about and takes a real interest in others. This love is more than the brotherly love required of the family of God in “brotherly kindness” (2 Pet. 1:7). This is the love that God has shown to us through the sacrifice of His Son (Jn. 3:16). This ultimate form of love that Peter says we as Christians are to have in our lives is a love that is willing to do whatever can be done to help the other person. God’s love is a love that is willing to give His Son on our behalf. Jesus’ love is a love that is willing to give up His own life on our behalf. This type of sacrificial love is what we as Christians are called to share with others. What are we willing to give for others?
If we understand what God has given to us through His Son (2 Pet. 1:3-4), we will be willing to make sacrifices for others. We will make sacrifices of time, wealth, and ability to benefit others – whether or not we believe they are deserving (cf. Rom. 5:6ff). This type of sacrificial love, however, is not produced overnight. Developing the right mindset and attitude to love others takes time and conscious effort. Perhaps it is for this reason that Peter does not begin by telling Christians of their need for love. As we grow in our faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, and brotherly kindness, we will be growing in our love (2 Pet. 1:5-7).
By: Preston McElyea