Keep Building: Where the Staircase Ends

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness . . . and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.” (2 Peter 1:5,7)

What’s the top of the pyramid? When it comes to building a life lived for God, Peter describes faith as the foundation. Then he tells us to get to work adding goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, and godliness. But what’s the top floor?

trees_350Coming in at number two is “brotherly kindness,” the idea that godly people treat others like family because we’re all adopted into God’s family through faith in Jesus. But we must keep building to add to our kindness something better. Love is where the staircase ends.

That doesn’t surprise us. After all, John tells us that God is love. Jesus said that to love God and each other are the first and second most important commands. And Paul wrote that among the finalists of faith, hope, and love, love is the greatest. The whole Bible points to love as the ultimate goal and the best of God’s great gifts.

So what’s your top floor look like?

Think: Of these 8 qualities, which needs the most building work in your life? Any ideas for how you can work in God’s power to add more of that quality to your life?

Pray: Ask God to help you to continue to grow in brotherly kindness and in his kind of love.

Do: In a sentence or two, describe how you know that God loves you and what that love is worth.