2 Peter 1:4-7 New English Translation (NET Bible)

4 Through these things he has bestowed on us his precious and most magnificent promises,

so that by means of what was promised you may become partakers of the divine nature,

after escaping the worldly corruption that is produced by evil desire. 5 For this very reason,

make every effort to add to your faith excellence, to excellence, knowledge; 6 to knowledge,

self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance, godliness; 7 to godliness,

brotherly affection; to brotherly affection, unselfish love.

 

Growth may come slowly

 

Natural affection is mostly on the rampage

It embraces wants and wishes in a clear direction

It fulfills self and builds on many feelings

It hungers to be satisfied and despises affliction

 

Feeling good or better is the center of its target

Fulfillment is based on environmental perception

It dwells on the surface and fits into a circumstance

And presents itself in self-contained pretension

 

God wants love to be in His control

A love beyond our comprehension

Only then we can love our enemy

And pay mankind proper attention

 

He’ll replace the love called natural

With a better without self-determination

A love that just flows out through us

Unbridled and free in God’s destination

 

To love what God loves is the answer.

To love others as ourselves is in need to mention.

To love unblemished just for God’s sake

so He can move ... in His own dimension.

 

Spiritual growth will come when God guides my affections

for without my Lord and Savior, I am undisciplined and wild.

I will bounce around with no sense of direction

and my end for certain will be classified “defiled”.

 

We can only love God under the Spirit’s power

far beyond the caliber of natural affection.

Worldly power can’t contain the purity of God’s shower

that He releases for the redeemed in their direction.

 

Jan Wienen