More on 2 Peter 1:5-7

We’ve looked at the first four  of the seven gifts God has given to add to our faith (virtue, knowledge, self-control and endurance).

The next quality is godliness, something not hard to define. It is being like God, thinking his  thoughts, developing His qualities in my life, like grace, mercy, goodness, kindness and forgiveness.

Godlines comes in the list right after endurance because, as we endure through difficult times, as we look to God for help, insight, direction, transformation come. As it says in 2 Corinthians 3:18,

"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

So as we gaze on Him in our troubles, He makes us more godly! Without suffering, difficulties, problems this would not happen as much.

Then come brotherly kindness. Why does it  come so far down the list? Because we need to have the other qualities to fully love our brothers and sisters, who can be prickly, difficult and troublesome (as can we be at times). But if we have added the first 5 qualities, we are equipped to deal with difficult situations. The key point is mentioned later in the chapter: whoever does not have them [these qualities] is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. If we remember how much we have been forgiven, it is much easier to forgive others and love them.

And last comes love, but not just any love, this is agape love, the love of God that goes on no matter how we respond. And this is the love we are to have not just for believers, but for the world, the lost, hurting people in the world. It is God’s desire that all be saved, and He gives us a part in this. As we love others we will share our faith with them.

I would suggest  that you begin to add these qualities by praying through them each morning, asking God to help you add them.

Tomorrow we will look at the amazing results of consistency adding these seven qualities.