Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. —Colossians 3:14
The last of the qualities mentioned in 2 Peter 1 is the outflow of all the others—love. It’s agape, God’s love. That selfless, sacrificial, serving, giving love that always has the best interests of the other person at heart.
It’s the kind of love that doesn’t necessarily give people what they want but what they need. For God so loved the world that He gave us all a bunch of money and good health. No, God so loved this fallen, broken, needy world that He gave a Savior. He gave us what we needed.
I think a lot of Christians just want to start here and have everybody love everybody. However, true agape love is the outcome of a diligent building process. You can’t have genuine love apart from faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, and brotherly affection. As you add these qualities to your faith, you will grow in love. That is your calling and the supreme objective—to love the Lord with all your heart and then to love others with His love.
Make it Personal
Pray that your life will be characterized by selfless, sacrificial, serving love toward God and others.