"Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness" 2 Peter 1:5-7.

An important pathway to spiritual maturity is outlined in 2 Peter 1. We begin with faith in the truth, to which we diligently supply moral character, experiential knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, and brotherly kindness.

Brotherly kindness is literally the word Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love, as citizens of this country know. It is interesting that this quality of affection for our brothers and sisters in Christ follows from the other qualities listed. It suggests that the development of our personal character factors in to the overflow of affection for others. Out of personal spiritual wellness we are best able to love the family of God. Loving ourselves enough to cultivate the disciplines of 2 Peter 1 is directly related to our capacity to affectionately love others.

Here’s the rub: not everyone is easy to love. If we are honest with ourselves, we will admit that there are those that we just don’t like very much, or like to be with. This may be one of our greatest challenges in spiritual growth. As with all of the other qualities, the pathway of progress is not so much to try harder as to yield more. What we cannot seem to do of our own can only be done through Spirit enabling, no matter how challenging that may seem.

An old country song states that you’ve got to try a little kindness. As we read in Proverbs 15:1, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.” Some of the problems I’ve created for myself have been, not what I said, but how I said it. Tone of voice, I’m painfully learning, overrides actual words.

Brotherly kindness can be practiced through gentle words toward those we may not especially like. Kindness is an expression of grace, which we have freely received from our Father through Christ. To value grace is to express grace. Perhaps this perspective helps us today to better express brotherly kindness, which is beneficial to others, and serves as an appealing witness.

Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/ & https://kingdomdreamer.blogspot.com/

Amazon ebook & print devotional -http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GW