Kindness and Love
2 Peter 1:3,5-7 Jesus has the power of God. And his power has given us everything we need to live a life devoted to God … Because you have these blessings, do all you can to add to your life these things: to your faith add goodness; to your goodness add knowledge; to your knowledge add self-control; to your self-control add patience; to your patience add devotion to God; to your devotion add kindness toward your brothers and sisters in Christ; and to kindness add love.
I don’t know if you’ve noticed this too, but some people are difficult to love. We’d rather keep them at arm’s length or out of our lives completely. That’d just make things so much easier, wouldn’t it?
Who are those in your life? As you picture their faces, as they stir up negative emotions, let me drop the word “love” into the middle of that mix. It makes you squirm, doesn’t it? Because those whom we instinctively shun are loved by God just as much as we are.
And, truth be told, given who they are, given how they behave, they’re probably in greater need of love than most. But, I know, you don’t feel like you have it in you. And yet God’s already given you all the power you need to love them.
2 Peter 1:3,5-7 Jesus has the power of God. And his power has given us everything we need to live a life devoted to God … Because you have these blessings, do all you can to add to your life these things: to your faith add goodness; to your goodness add knowledge; to your knowledge add self-control; to your self-control add patience; to your patience add devotion to God; to your devotion add kindness toward your brothers and sisters in Christ; and to kindness add love.
That’s quite a list, and God leaves the best, the greatest, till last. Unconditional love. Friend, listen to me. If you want to live your best life, find a way to love the unlovables.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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