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5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:5-8, ESV

Reflection

First, let me say step six in building a resilient faith isn’t targeted toward men. Though verse 7 in the ESV says brotherly love, it’s referring to something all of us could use more of: mutual affection.

The Greek word translated brotherly love is Philadelphia. That’s right—the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is known as the city of brotherly love because that’s what its name means in Greek.

Up until now, building our resilient faith has focused on us improving as an individual. In this step, we begin a shift to focusing on improving as a member of God’s family. That requires a different mindset. Now, it’s no longer about what we need to do personally. It’s about what we need to do in relation to our Christian brothers and sisters. That’s what the brotherly part of this step refers to—our brothers and sisters in Christ.

To add brotherly love to our faith, we must take all that inner work we’ve done and use it in collaboration with others. As the Bible teaches in Ecclesiastes 4:12, “A triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” So if you’re ready to take step six in building a resilient faith, it’s time to focus on being a better partner to your Christian brothers and sisters.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we come, Lord, thanking You, God, for the truth that, Lord, we are made as a member of Your family. Meaning, there’s others, God, that are walking this walk as well, God. Because of that, we need to be thoughtful and mindful, God, of ways You want to use us in that broader context.

While, Father God, we’ve been working on ourselves individually, we recognize it’s time, Lord, that we work as a member of Your broader family. Help us, God, to see how You want to use us in Your family, how we can collaborate more with others, God, and have that same mindset that was in Christ Jesus to be a servant. God, use us for Your glory. In Christ Jesus’ name we pray and give thanks. Amen.

Application Question

How am I contributing to my church family, or taking away from it?