Foundations for Love

In order to be productive and effective in our faith, we are called to possess certain qualities, one of which is LOVE; however, before we are to have love we must have goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, and brotherly kindness. So often, we jump straight into the idea of love, but maybe we should take a step back to the foundations of love that Second Peter talks about. If we want to show love and be examples of Christ's love, we should ALREADY be covering these other characteristics

2 Peter 1:3-9
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.