The book in the Bible entitled 2 Peter, is a short letter intended to be a farewell warning early Christian communities about dangerous heresy from within their ranks. Peter likely wrote this from a Roman prison where he was held and then executed shortly thereafter. So, it’s a goodbye letter to people he taught, cared for and loved.
Here is a passage I have come into recently:
It is written as though there is movement or progression through it. Here’s what I mean:
Supplement your faith with (v 5):
- Virtue: Exhibiting moral excellence and goodness. Supplement virtue with . . .
- Knowledge: What one has learned through study or experience. And knowledge with . . .
- Self-Control: Able to regulate one’s emotions, thoughts or behaviors. And self-control with . . .
- Steadfastness: Unwavering, being resolute, loyal to purpose or belief. And steadfastness with . . .
- Godliness: Being devoted, moral, upright and reverent. And godliness with . . .
- Brotherly Affection: Deep, loyal love of one’s family member or one treated as such. And brotherly affection . . .
- Love: Sacrificing oneself for another, willingness to set aside one’s desires for another and so on.
This could be read as a list of virtues that we must have a plan to work on each day. There may be another way.
In 1 Corinthians 13, otherwise known as the “love chapter”, Paul lays out what has become a commonplace reading at many modern-day weddings. At that time, he was addressing severe internal divisions and compromises in ethics and conduct at a church he earlier planted. He gave them the way to navigate their challenges and how to find the right course for living.
As Paul describes “love” he personifies it. Paul writes in verse 4, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast”. He doesn’t say, “When you are loving, you will be patient and kind. You won’t envy or boast.” See the difference?
Love is a person.
You see, Jesus is the person referred to by Peter. He is personifying love, and the person of love he is describing is Jesus.
If we were to begin at the end of Peter’s list, and we began with love, knowing love firsthand through the person of Jesus, how might we navigate through the rest of the list? Would those things simply fall into place? Unlikely because we remain in this earthly and continuous battle with sin, but can we accomplish those virtues in our lives WITHOUT love? Unlikely as well.
So, what does this mean? It means we must fall in love with Jesus. How? Spend time with him everyday. Read his word he created for you. Rest in his presence rather than scroll on your phone. Be still and quiet. Visit him in nature. Listen to the trees rustle in the wind, knowing he controls it all. You get my drift.
If you have ever fallen in love before with another person, think of how drawn you were to them, desired to spend time with them, talked with them on long calls, visited them as often as possible, and so on.
Will you love Jesus like that?
Richard Bahr 