Check Your List

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For, if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2Peter 1:5-8

Love is our goal, right? Peter gives us a very clear map to being able to show such unselfish love as described in this passage. For me, showing love isn’t always that easy or convenient. But when we go down Peter’s list and do what he suggests, it is possible.

First on the list is faith. Faith is the foundation of our personal relationship with Jesus. Without faith we have nothing. Next is goodness. We are called to do what is right. If we aren’t sure of what is right we have Scripture to guide us. From goodness comes knowledge, which leads to self-control. In my experience, this is where Satan tries to pull me off the narrow path. After self-control, comes perseverance – staying the course in order to become godly and extend brotherly kindness. Finally, when we have matured through following these steps, we have love. We learn to love even those whom we find difficult to love.

I often fall short of all that the Lord would have me do. When I do fall short, I look at this list and am able to pinpoint the area that is causing me to “short circuit”.

TAKE THE CHALLENGE: Where are you on this list today?
By: Tim Rowland