2 PETER: LOVE
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” —John 13:34–35
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Our lifelong climb to Christlikeness culminates at the peak with the cross—the
ultimate symbol of God’s love. There, Jesus poured out His precious blood as
“liquid love” for the salvation of humanity. Love is supreme. It must flow through
every virtue on the golden path to Christlikeness. It is not just one of many traits it is the one that authenticates our walk with God. Nothing more, nothing less.
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Love is what defines us as followers of Christ—not our belief in God alone, not
spiritual gifts like speaking in tongues or prophesying, not even miraculous works. Spiritual growth is the process of learning to love. It draws us into deeper
fellowship with God and transforms our lives into training grounds for agape love—until we look more and more like Jesus.
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The apostle John gives us a clear picture of God’s love and His expectations for us: “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know ... him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:7–10)
John teaches that God is the essence of love—pure light, without a trace of darkness. He faithfully forgives and cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Those who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.
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​Jesus was the perfect demonstration of love. When asked about the greatest commandment, He replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30–31).
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Love is proven not by sentiment, but by action. We are called to love one another unconditionally, just as Jesus loved us. In a world darkened by hatred and division, love is the light that shines through. It is the only force strong enough to overcome evil. The clearest evidence of Christ in us is the love we show.
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Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 13 (The Passion Translation) do not just describe love, they invite us to live it. Love is patient, gentle, and consistently kind. It refuses jealousy, avoids self-promotion, and never traffics in shame or selfish ambition. Love is not easily offended but celebrates honesty and protects what is good. It never gives up, never loses faith, and never stops loving. “Love never fails. Love never stops loving.” This kind of love is the greatest power in the universe—and the beautiful prize for which we run the race.
This kind of love is beyond human capability. We cannot manufacture it in our own strength. It is a gift—poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit when we say yes to Jesus (Romans 5:5). At first, it may feel easy to put Jesus first. But to sustain and grow in that love, we must practice the steps Peter outlines in 2 Peter 1. Without intentional cultivation, even divine love can remain dormant within us.
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God’s Word is our love manual. It teaches us how to love as He loves. Our part is to obey—to walk it out, day by day.
1 John 2 warns us not to set our affections on the world or the things in it. Life is about one thing: love. Love is a choice, an act of will. No one can stop you from loving. It is not about romantic feelings or fate—it is about selflessness, humility, and seeking the good of others. Love is the perfect expression of Christ’s life in us. We were created to receive love, become love, and give love.
One day, we will stand before Jesus. And He will ask us not how much we accomplished, but how well we loved. Did we love only those who loved us back? Did we love the unlovable? Did our actions reflect a love of excellence?
Let us devote ourselves to living in godliness and excellence, with love as our motivation. May the Church be known as the leader in love.
As we open our hearts daily in obedient vulnerability, God will release His love in ways we have never experienced. When we respond to Jesus, He responds with an invitation to intimacy—a future marriage relationship. He longs for a bride who will love Him back for all eternity. This kind of love moves the heart of God.
According to 1 Corinthians 13:13, three things will last forever: faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love.
Final Reflection Love is not just the greatest virtue—it is the very heartbeat of God. It is the measure of our maturity, the mark of our discipleship, and the mission of our lives. Everything we do, everything we become, must be rooted in love. As we climb toward Christlikeness, love is both the path and the prize. It is the one thing that will echo into eternity. So let us choose love—not just in moments of ease, but in the hard places, the hidden places, the places where love costs us something. For in loving well, we reflect the One who loved us first.
Prayer of Response Thank You, Father, for the revelation of Your powerful love. Let us yield to the love of Jesus, for it is truly the most powerful force in the universe.