<p>1:7 <i>And to your reverence toward God, brotherly kindness, and to your brotherly kindness, love</i>- Relationship with God is reflected in relationship with others, especially our brethren, as John's writings often make clear. We are not able to claim a relationship with God whilst ignoring our brethren. The fruit singular of the Spirit is love, love manifested in all the various ways we have listed in the descriptions of the &quot;fruit of the Spirit&quot;. And here likewise, we are not reading of sequential, chronological development, in which &quot;love&quot; is not supplied into the mix until the end of the process; rather, the entire symbiotic relationship which comprises our spirituality is summarized in love.</p><p>Our experience of tribulation leads to the development of patience, then real hope of salvation, and above all, as the final stage of maturity, &quot;the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us&quot; (Rom. 5:5). It is the work of the Spirit within us which matures us towards the final maturity of love. Here, 2 Pet. 1:5-7 describes a similar upward spiral of chronological development, again culminating in brotherly kindness and then, love. And again it is the work of the Spirit which effects this work.</p>