Faith which is from God relies on God and not our own efforts. However, Peter says there are things we must do that God will not do. We are to make every effort to add. This will cost us. It is at our expense. We will have to give, lose, back down and walk away from some things. It will take effort, we will have to diligently do this, it will not just happen, God will not do it and we will not be able to rely on our human nature to do this, we choose, it is a decision we make. And here then is what we must add that God will not do.
And so we come to the end of Peter’s list of virtues: Love. Make every effort. Add love.
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.” (2 Peter 1 v 5-7)
Agape love. The pinnacle and the foundation of all the virtue lists. Without it nothing would make sense. It is what sets the lists of Peter and Paul aside from other pagan lists.
This is not a feeling towards the person you are loving but it is a strong commitment that will not let go until that person understands, receives and prospers from the purpose of your love. It is the highest form, of sacrificial commitment love. The cross is how God demonstrated Agape to the world.
This day in 1978, 9 Elim UK missionaries and their 4 children went through hell on earth with agape in their hearts even for those who killed them. In the Vumba Mountains of now Zimbabwe, in one of the only schools open for miles around at that time, they continued to hold their health clinics, bible teaching and regular academic classes within Emmanuel school.
They are an inspiration who with the great cloud of witnesses cheer us on who are here today. Their agape propelled others into a life of service in missions. They died not because of God or an evil spirit, it was man who did this. They fell to the ground but their agape love didn’t end on the ground. They fell to the ground but it wasn’t because they gave up but it was because their love was agape.
Peter and Sandra McCann: 13th January 1977: “These are not easy times and they are likely to get worse: we could leave anytime but not them. It seems so much remains to be done here, and so little time for us left – but only eternity will tell the tale of fruit born and nurtured in the hearts of our people… Don’t get the idea that we are losing hope, because that is far from true. Our hope is in God, and we have no reason to fear the devises of man.”
Wendy White: April 1978: “In some places the real Christians are being strengthened in the face of persecution (as are very few real disciples of Christ Jesus have also been strengthened here in the school), but very few ‘stand’ when asked to denounce the Name of Jesus at the point of a gun. (Would we?)… ‘Though you slay me, I WILL TRUST you , Lord’ – I said it aloud (though there were no one there to hear me) and a few hours later, when I was determined to praise through and was offering the sacrifice of praise – suddenly Jesus was there with me, and my heart was warmed and lightened and full of praise.”
Philip and Suzanne Evans: 1976: “The situation here is, of course, disturbing, but once all the public arrangements and safeguards have been made, all we can do is to redeem the time for the Lord. In some ways it’s more necessary than ever that there should be a Christian witness in this country.”
Mary Fisher; the night before the attack sang her favourite song, “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.”
Lynn, Roy and Joyce: 1978: “They are praying very hard for peace, meanwhile I think we must be faithful and one never knows when the fire will ignite and we too will be in revival.”
Catherine Picken: Jan 1976: “We want the whole area to hear the gospel message. It has been a joy to see God moving.”
Amazing attitudes! Were they extraordinary people? No they were ordinary people with an extraordinary agape love for others.
Missions Paul 