I Peter 2:17 tells us to love our brothers.  This is set among other commands.  Does that seem odd?  Isn’t love supposed to be the mark of a Christian? If it was easy, why would Peter still be on the subject in 2 Peter 1? Peter commands us to add brotherly love to many other Godly attributes.

Loving another is taking positive action for their good.  Positive action begins with positive thought.  How many times have we taken the position of “guilty until proven innocent” regarding another Christian?  Has someone taken that position regarding you?  Positive action is difficult when we start by believing the worst first.  Scripture says we’re to do the exact opposite. We are to believe the best, hold each other in high esteem, and deem others as more important than ourselves.  Starting there, it’s much easier to take action that demonstrates love for another.  We must remember love is a verb, not a feeling.  After all, Christ’s love was demonstrated on a cross before we believed (Romans 5:8).

Do we need help loving our Christian family?  If we didn’t, why does Scripture include so many commands to love? We even have to be commanded to love God! We have our struggles with that. So how much more trouble are we going to have loving imperfection (i.e., others like ourselves!)?  Maybe the answer is rooted in the Prayer for Presence! (click link to see it)

Being consumed with a passion for His presence allows me to exhibit and extend Godly grace to others. His Presence makes me more like Him and lets me love like He loves. His Presence equips me to be His ambassador to a world that doesn’t know Him (2 Cor. 5:20). His Presence adds brotherly love so I have a heart to go, give, send, equip, and love.

Are you praying for His Presence?

Soli Deo Gloria!