Love In Action

2 Peter 1:5,6 (NKJV)
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.

The final link in the godly qualities that Peter tells us to add to our faith is love. Love needs to be the primary motive by which we do all things. Any act of kindness needs to be done in love. All qualities listed here and all the fruit of the Spirit need to be displayed in love. Without love, anything done for God can become duty and it is done from the wrong motive. Love is the main theme of scripture. The only two laws of the New Testament are to love God with all our heart, soul and mind, and to love others as ourselves.

In these verses alone there is a drastic contrast between performing each of these godly characters and displaying them in love. If we look at the list that Peter gave us we can see the contrast.

· Virtue – without love virtue becomes self righteous acts which seek to impress others and gain personal glory. Whereas virtue displayed in love is purity out of gentleness. This shows the holiness of Christ in order to help and guide others to act right.

· Knowledge – without love, knowledge is puffed up and seeks self superiority. On the other hand, knowledge displayed with love seeks to inform, guide, build up and direct others to the Lord.

· Self-control – without love, self-control can be displayed by a fearful employee trying to keep his job. A person can control their temper but continue to carry out corrupt behavior. But, self-control displayed in love, remains calm in all situations and seeks what is best for the other person.

· Perseverance – perseverance without love is shown everyday by a business man or a team sticking to the task unto the end. But love controlled perseverance keeps looking to God in trust and calmness unto the end despite what things look like.

· Godliness – Godliness apart from love is religion, which is man working his way to God. But, God is love and true Godliness can only be shown by someone who has a deep intimate relationship with the very God of love.

· Brotherly kindness – brotherly kindness without love can be shown between team members or co-workers who want to accomplish the same task. But, in love, brotherly kindness seeks the good of others first, the needs of body of Christ are handled as if they were our own needs.

In order to love, we need a selfless desire to meet the need of another. We need pure motives in which we only desire to do what is best for the other person and we need to treat the other person with the same preference that we would give our own selves. While here on earth, this will be a battle every day. We need to actively seek this, pray for this and search the scriptures as to how to show love to others. By seeking this you will have a savior who is very well pleased with your endeavors.

Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.



Daniel A. Smith