Add to your Godliness, Brotherly Kindness. II Peter 1:7

Dear Father,

All of the attributes of II Peter 1 up to now have focused on our own self-improvement of our character. But then, as you always do, you turn the discussion to make it clear that everything ultimately comes down to relationship. As your servant Paul says in I Corithians 13, without love, without exhibiting the behavior that builds and sustains relationship, all of our "godly" actions count for nothing. These verses tell us that the foundation of being able to properly build relationship is that we must have a deep faith in you, we must strive to do good and be good, we must have a good knowledge of you, your nature and your teachings, we must have self-control, we must stick to our promises and commitments, and we must strive to exhibit your attributes. But those are, indeed, foundational to being able to show brotherly kindness and love. They are foundational because showing brotherly kindness is unnatural. It is easy when people are likable, but it is hard and unnatural when people of difficult to get along with. Only with the foundation given in verses 5 and 6 can we begin to show the kind of brotherly kindness you have in mind.

I pray that you build in these children a foundation that allows them to show kindness to people who are unlikeable. That will be hard. It is hard for me. But if they are able to do that, they will truly shine like stars and they will be an agent for your peace. Give them the wisdom to choose words that will calm the troubled hearts that underlie the unlikeable behavior. Give them the gift of peace making and the talent to reach out and touch the social lepers. May it be said of them that they love the unlovable.

Amen