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For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 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

We’ve reached step seven. It’s one word: love. And you’ve probably guessed that it’s not just any love—it’s agape love. The final step for building a resilient faith lands us exactly where God lives: in unconditional love. He loves us no matter how many mistakes we make or how far we run from Him. His love for us never diminishes and it never weakens. Our decisions can sadden Him and even make Him angry, but they never remove His love for us. We are His creation, and He loves us in that true, agape way.

He doesn’t force us to love Him back or do the things He desires of us. He gives us freedom to make our decisions, even if they mean we are eternally separated from Him. That’s the hardest type of love because it still gives freely, knowing the other person will refuse to receive it.

The only way to add that love to our faith is to see people as God sees them. And it’s impossible to do that until we are transformed by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit shifts our attitudes and beliefs to conform us to the way Jesus thought. For example, instead of seeing people as enemies, we rebuke the spiritual wickedness that creates division. Instead of focusing on how we’re feeling, we focus on what God is trying to show us through our feelings. The Holy Spirit gives us insight into our God-given purpose, not just our human experience.

So, if you’re ready to take step seven in building a resilient faith, actively ask God each day to give you spiritual eyes to see others as He sees them, and then the strength to act on the truth that spiritual clarity brings.

Prayer

Lord, once born again, You’ve seen fit for us to come together and share in this devotion. God, we thank You that the ultimate step in adding to our faith to reach that resilient level is adding in agape love.

God, we need You today to show us how to see others the way You see them. We need You, God, to strengthen us to love unconditionally the way You love us. Help us, God, to do those things. In Thy loving Son Jesus’ name do we pray and give thanks.

Application Question

How clear is your spiritual vision?