2 May you have more and more grace and peace through the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. 3 By his divine power the Lord has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of the one who called us by his own honor and glory. 4 Through his honor and glory he has given us his precious and wonderful promises, that you may share the divine nature and escape from the world’s immorality that sinful craving produces. 5 This is why you must make every effort to add moral excellence to your faith; and to moral excellence, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, endurance; and to endurance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, affection for others; and to affection for others, love. 8 If all these are yours and they are growing in you, they’ll keep you from becoming inactive and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 Whoever lacks these things is shortsighted and blind, forgetting that they were cleansed from their past sins. 10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, be eager to confirm your call and election. Do this and you will never ever be lost. 11 In this way you will receive a rich welcome into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. 12 So I’ll keep reminding you about these things, although you already know them and stand secure in the truth you have. 13 I think it’s right that I keep stirring up your memory, as long as I’m alive. 14 After all, our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me that I am about to depart from this life. 15 I’m eager for you always to remember these things after my death. (2 Peter 1:2-15, CEB)
I’m looking for a car right now, and this kind of reminds me of dealerships adding stuff onto cars. Add ons cost you extra and are sometimes things we don’t want. But that really isn’t what this is.
I mean these are add ons. But they are ones we need whether we know we need them or not.
We must make every effort to add moral excellence to our faith. We should live lives that are moral examples for others. And then we add knowledge to help explain things others may not understand. And knowledge gives us self-control and endurance and godliness, and these culminate in affection for others and this leads us to love. Which is the greatest commandment, love of God and neighbor.
We need to show love in everything we do.
Loving People. Loving God.