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1)# ’Defend the cause … plead the case.’

Isaiah 1:17 (15-20)

As Christians we are called to be involved in society, not removed from it. With the help of many agencies and the convenience of the internet, there is little excuse for any of us to shut ourselves off from the needs of the world. We are called to join with other people who stand up and speak out for those who face struggles of all sorts.

The fatherless and widows of Bible times represent the poor, the oppressed, the marginalised of society today. To defend and to plead, means action. It means being informed and involved rather than being ignorant and inactive. As well as the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East there are many other situations around the world where these words from Isaiah are relevant for us today. But it’s not just about people in other countries. It’s also about those closer to home who need our help. People on our streets and in our local communities; people struggling to make ends meet. Whether it’s practical help, an encouraging word, or lobbying on their behalf, let’s work together in the name of Christ for the cause and case of people in need.


2)# ’Then we shall be like all the other nations.’

1 Samuel 8:20 (10-20)

The longings of the eyes became the longings of the heart, and as a result the Israelites were drawn away from following the Lord Jehovah. They had lost sight of what God had called them to be - different. Instead they wanted to be the same as everyone else and have an earthly king. In so doing, they were rejecting God as their King (8:7).

The pull of the world around us is very strong and living for Jesus can often be very different from living like the rest of society. Yet the pressure to fit in, at home, at work, with friends, within society, is very real - and it can be hard to resist. For the Israelites, the problems began when they became comfortable and complacent. What they saw in other nations, they wanted for themselves and they turned away from the Lord as a result. There is a similar danger facing us, the Church of Jesus today. We must guard against the influences of the world creeping into our lives, our fellowships and affecting what we teach or how we live. Let’s heed the warning and make sure that Jesus remains as Lord and King of our lives.


3)# ’Christ Jesus … our righteousness, holiness and redemption.’

1 Corinthians 1:30 (26-31)

The Apostle Paul highlights three aspects of our complete salvation in Christ.

Firstly there is our righteousness in Christ, which deals with our past. The mark of sin is to leave us unrighteous before a Holy God. But through his death on the cross, Christ has dealt with our past. We can be forgiven, we can be set free from slavery to sin, and through re-birth we can be clothed in the righteousness of Christ - right before God and accepted by him.

Secondly there is our holiness (sanctification) in Christ, which provides for our present. This is the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit within us, making us more like Christ and preparing us for the new heaven and earth - a holy people for a holy place. The fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5) is the visible expression of the invisible power working within us.

Then lastly there is our redemption in Christ, which assures us of our future. This will happen when Jesus comes again and when our bodies as well as our spirits are transformed into his likeness. Christ’s coming again will bring complete salvation to those who are waiting for him (Heb 9:28). It’s something we can look forward to even now. Hallelujah. Come Lord Jesus.


4)# ’The people worked with all their heart.’

Nehemiah 4:6 (1-9)

This is in sharp contrast to the attitude of the nobles from Tekoa (3:5) that we read about last month, and it made all the difference! When you read the list of those involved in the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem there’s not a ‘professional’ builder amongst them!  Yet despite physical and verbal opposition, the walls were rebuilt because the people put their heart and soul into it.

A willing heart makes someone teachable, encourages team work and will help in any way that’s required. A willing heart won’t make excuses, but will take every opportunity to serve. Providing the necessary skills and resources is not a problem for the Lord, but he needs those who have a heart to serve him, to step forward. Let’s not sit on the sidelines, but let’s put our hand up and be available for the Lord Jesus to use today.


5)#  ’The Lord … has not stopped showing his kindness.’

Ruth 2:20 (17-22)

What a wonderful testimony this was from Naomi. She had been through a devastating time, yet was able to see the Lord’s hand in all that was going on. Those who seek to follow the Lord are not immune from the struggles and heartaches of everyday life. Whether it’s the loss of a job, the loss of opportunities or the loss of loved ones, life can taste very bitter at times (see Ruth 1:20).

Yet, somehow, as with Naomi, the Lord is able to turn tragedy into triumph. It can be easy to think that the Lord has forgotten us when things become tough, but it’s through those tough times that our trust and faith in Father God can be strengthened. Often we can look back to see how he has wonderfully used difficult times to deepen our relationship with him and increase the impact of our witness to other people. So let’s acknowledge his kindness and keep trusting him, even when life tastes bitter.


6)# ’If I perish, I perish.’

Esther 4:16 (12-17)

This is not resignation, but a willingness on Esther’s part to sacrifice herself for the sake of her people. Her meteoric rise to become Queen had not been by accident, but was part of God’s eternal plan. Mordecai recognised this and encouraged Esther to seize the moment to fulfil a God-given role. But let’s not pretend that the choice was easy. Esther counted the cost and then was willing to pay it, in order to save her own people.
 
What a lovely picture of Jesus Christ. Whilst the possibility of death was there for Esther, the certainty of death on the cross was there for Jesus. Yet out of his great love for us, Jesus went to the cross to save us from sin, from death and from an eternity away from God. ‘Whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life’ (John 3:16). It’s as true today as it ever has been. Let’s make sure we don’t miss out on this salvation.


7)# ’But what about you?’

Matthew 16:15 (13-19)

Initially Jesus had started by asking his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ His disciples were happy to share some of the things they had heard. It’s easy to repeat what other people think or say. It shows that you have your ‘ear to the ground’ and are in touch with people’s views and opinions. Then Jesus makes it personal. ‘But what about you? Who do you say I am?’

Repeating what other people say means we can avoid saying what we think. So, like with the disciples, Jesus invites us to declare who we think he is. Now it all becomes personal. Face to face with Jesus. But it’s the best way to be. Once we confess him as ‘the Christ, the Son of the living God’, then he can be our Saviour, and what a difference that makes. So let’s live today, declaring Jesus to be our Saviour, Lord and King, through what we say and what we do.


8)# ’I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord.’

Isaiah 63:7 (7-9)

The first thing is to recognise the kindnesses of the Lord. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life it’s easy to miss the Lord’s kindnesses. Things we take for granted, things we come to expect because of living in a wealthy society, things we put down to coincidence. Once we begin to recognise the Lord’s kindnesses, then we can begin to tell.

But telling is not simply about words. Actions can ‘talk’ as well, and kindness is best ‘told’ through action. As we acknowledge the kindnesses of the Lord in our own lives, it will spur us on to show acts of kindness to other people. The Lord never intended his blessing to stop with you and me. Pass it on to someone else today.


9)# ’The Lord blesses his people with peace.’

Psalm 29:11 (7-11)

The world is riddled with unrest and upset. Whether it is a row between neighbours, or war between nations, the world is short of peace. So how important for us to recognise this statement made by the psalmist. This blessing of peace from the Lord is not meant for our benefit alone, but to be shared with other people.

Jesus spoke of his peace as being very different from that of the world. His peace is rooted in a right relationship with Father God. It’s a peace that comes when our sin is forgiven and our eternal future is secure in Christ. It’s a peace that cannot be taken away by external events. As his followers, we have been blessed with this peace (shalom) so that we can become peacemakers (Matt 5). We have the ‘gospel of peace’ (Eph 6), and it’s a gospel that needs to be lived out. Whether it’s between neighbours or nations, we have a part to play in bringing God’s peace into troubled lives. So, whether it’s through words or actions, let’s look for opportunities to bless other people with God’s peace, today.


10)# ’Be careful that you do not forget the LORD.’

Deuteronomy 6:12 (10-15)

Moses knew the dangers that lay ahead for the Israelites in the land of Canaan. When things go well and times are easy, then complacency, apathy and lethargy can all creep in. Over time, the Israelites’ dealings with the Lord became ritual and routine and their relationship with the Lord suffered as a result. It’s a cautionary word for us all.

Earlier on in this passage, Moses gives some practical advice which can help you and me  today.

Firstly, let Christ be ‘the love of our life’ and part of our everyday conversation (v5,7). What we say and how we say it must reflect our love for Jesus and benefit those who hear us.

Secondly, let our love for Christ be obvious to all by the way we live (v8 & 9). We shouldn’t need to wear a cross or a fish-badge, helpful though these are. Our lives should reflect the very beauty of Jesus who dwells within us by his Spirit.

Then thirdly, ‘fear the LORD your God’ (v13). A right fear, that maintains respect and awe for a Holy God will help us walk in obedience to him and maintain a right relationship with him. Let’s not forget. Let’s keep Christ at the centre of our lives.


11)# ’And this thing became a sin.’

1 Kings 12:30 (26-33)

Not only was Jeroboam’s action in setting up two golden calves wrong, but it also led the people of Israel into sin. For fear of losing popularity and power, Jeroboam made life easier for the Israelites and disobeyed God’s directions for where and how worship of him should happen. Obedience to the Lord must come before personal ambition or ease of life.

Jesus presented his followers with the cost of discipleship and we need to accept that obedience to Christ will be a difficult path at times. If we come to Christ for an easy life, then we’ll be disappointed. Seeking to mix the comforts of the world with being disciples of Jesus can lead to compromise and that can lead to sin, just as it did for Jeroboam and the Israelites. So let’s make sure we don’t make the same mistake just to make things easier for ourselves and for other people.


12)# ’Be patient then brothers until the Lord’s coming.’

James 5:7 (7-11)

In a world where having things happen immediately is expected, patience can be in short supply. With fast foods, 24-hour shopping and mobile devices, we’ve come to expect things straightaway. But for all who follow Jesus, then patience is required as we wait for his return.

Paul speaks about the Christian life as a running race (1 Cor 9), and it’s not a sprint. It’s more like a marathon and keeping going is what is required. Waiting for something is helped when you know what you are waiting for, and that it will be worth the wait. Well, we’re waiting for Jesus and he will return. He will bring salvation for those who are waiting for him (Heb 9:28) and he will reward all who have waited patiently, with a place in the new heaven and earth. Perfect in every way and well worth the wait. So in a world of the immediate, let’s learn to be patient.


13)# ’Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?’

Job 2:10 (7-10)

Living in a fallen world means we will experience the consequences, which are not always pleasant. As God’s people we are not immune from the struggles of life. It can seem unfair to us that some should suffer because of someone else’s wrong. In this response from Job, he is acknowledging that life can be unfair. But God can use troubled times for our good. It’s not only part of life, it’s also part of the Lord’s way of refining us and shaping us, individually and collectively, as his Church.

The writer to the Hebrews speaks of being disciplined, like a father with his son (Heb 12:5). The Apostle Peter speaks of being refined, proving our faith to be genuine (1 Pet 1:7). The Apostle James speaks of it as part of the process in making us complete in Christ (Jas 1:2). Each of these people, wrote out of personal experience. More often than not, being pruned, being refined, can be painful, but it produces fruit and purity that will last and will be for the glory of God.


14)# ‘Queen Vashti refused to come.’

Esther 1:12 (9-12)

One woman’s refusal became the opportunity for another’s willingness. This ‘domestic incident’ between the King and his missus was used by God to bring about his plans and purposes for his people. Esther’s willingness to enter a beauty competition, led to one of the most dramatic incidents recorded in the Bible. In the face of pending annihilation, God brought deliverance for his people through Queen Esther.

Opportunities to serve the Lord can come in the most unexpected ways and it’s not necessarily experience that Christ is looking for, so much as willingness to serve. Sometimes it may seem to you and me as if God is unaware of and removed from the things that are going on in the world today. On the contrary, this incident shows us that he is fully aware and very involved. Haman’s planned destruction of the Jews was the setting for God to bring deliverance for his people and ultimately salvation to the world. God’s plans and purposes will not be thwarted by people’s evil intent. So, even in the difficult times, let’s take the opportunities that will come our way to serve the Lord Jehovah and his people.

15)# ’His wife took a covering … and scattered grain over it.’

2 Samuel 17:19 (17-22)

Like Rahab before her (Joshua 2:6), this lady had to do some quick thinking. But the pressure brought out the best in her. Scattering grain over the covering was the master-stroke. To the chasing soldiers, it seemed like a normal domestic scene - grain drying in the sun, undisturbed. This small detail in turn helped to save David’s life and advance God’s plan.

In our lives, it’s often the small things that can make a big difference - for good and bad. Consider the blessing of an encouraging word, a kind act, a forgiving heart. These small things can add integrity to our witness for Christ. But also let’s guard against allowing the small things to damage our witness for the Lord. The unkind comment, the unfriendly gesture, the unforgiving heart. Let’s bring every aspect of our lives under the Lordship of Christ, as we serve him today.


16)# ’So that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.’

Hebrews 3:13 (12-19)

For the Israelites in the wilderness, their daily struggles made them believe that captivity in Egypt was better than freedom in the desert, and their hearts had become hardened towards God. As a result they rebelled against him and suffered the consequences.

Satan is the master of deceit, and the danger of deceit is that, given enough air-time, it can seem like the truth. For Christians today, particularly in an affluent society, these dangers are very real. The grass in the world’s field can look a lot greener than in the field of discipleship of Jesus. Unless we are careful, we can become so beguiled by the promises and reasoning of the world around us, that we compromise our walk with the Lord. That’s why we need one another, not to point the finger, but to hold out a helping hand as we encourage one another to keep walking the narrow, but right way and to keep our eyes on Jesus who has gone before us.


17)# ’Seek righteousness, seek humility.’

Zephaniah 2:3 (1-3)

There’s not much evidence of these two qualities today in the corridors of power or the boardrooms of big businesses and financial institutions. Power and profit are much more attractive. And in so many areas of society the focus is on self; self-promotion, self-expression, self-fulfilment, self-worth - all of which may have their place, but not at the expense of righteousness and humility. Pride and arrogance will lead to a distortion of what is right and it was this attitude and behaviour of the nations of the world, that Zephaniah spoke of as being under God’s judgement.

But all who truly ‘seek the Lord’, will also seek righteousness and humility, however costly they may be. Seeking involves effort, but what is sought is of great value and worth the effort. These two qualities make a difference for us and for other people. Doing what is right will come before seeking power and profit. The Apostle Paul encourages us to prefer one another ‘in humility’ and act for the benefit of other people and so follow the example of Christ (Phil 2:3,4). Righteousness and humility may be in short supply in some places, so let’s make sure they are clearly manifest in our lives today.


18)# ’When he saw the wind.’

Matthew 14:30 (22-30)

It wasn’t that Peter hadn’t noticed the wind until now. He and his friends had been struggling against it for hours. But when Jesus showed up, Peter’s faith in Christ was bigger than his fear of the storm - until he took his eyes off Jesus and looked at what was going on around him. Then he began to sink.

Jesus never promised life without challenges, but he has promised to be with us in the challenges, and if we ‘fix our eyes on Jesus’ rather than on the storms of life, then he will see us safely through. But, like Peter, there will be times when we are overwhelmed by our circumstances and we begin to sink, as it were. Well, let’s follow Peter’s example and call out to the Lord for help. We may get a bit wet, but he will lift us up and bring us safely back into the boat.


19)# ’Why did you doubt?’

Matthew 14:31 (29-33)

This may seem a little harsh given what Peter had just come through. But this is not so much a rebuke but more of an encouragement for Peter to learn from his experience. Things had been going so well as Peter discovered that faith in Christ’s word enabled him to walk on the water and through the storm that was going on around him. Then when he focussed on the wind, fear rushed in and doubt took over.

Fear is the enemy of faith and causes doubt. It comes when we allow the difficulties and challenges of life to distract us from the presence of Christ. As the psalmist declared, ‘I will fear no evil for you are with me.’ However high the waves, or however much we’re struggling to stay afloat, doubt can be replaced by faith as we recognise the presence of the Lord Jesus, call out to him and experience his helping hand.


20)# ’Don’t be afraid … remember the Lord.’

Nehemiah 4:14 (10-15)

As we saw yesterday, fear can have a serious impact on  our trust in the Lord. ‘A climate of fear’ is used to describe some situations today and just like the Jews long ago, it can cause us to become weak and ineffective. Out of fear we stay quiet; we fall in line; we hide away. All this was very real for Nehemiah and his fellow Jews. But fear takes a hold, when we forget the Lord.

‘Remember the Lord who is great and awesome’. Nehemiah stirred the people to remember all that the Lord had done for them in the past, so that they could have confidence in him for the present. Whatever situation we may face, let’s remind ourselves of all that the Lord has done for us and for other people, in the past, so that we can have confidence in him through challenging times. He’ll give us the strength we need, to overcome any fear.


21)# ’Let us not become weary in doing good.’

Galatians 6:9 (6-10)

Weariness or fatigue can occur for many reasons. Do something enough times and you can become weary of it, however enjoyable it might have been at the start. Meet continual problems and you become weary, worn out, ready to give up. Be worn down by demands, and weariness calls for a break. So how can we avoid becoming weary in doing good?

Maybe the secret is source and focus. Earlier, the Apostle Paul has been speaking of the fruit of the Spirit -  his goodness manifest in our lives. He is the source. Acts 10:38 links the power of the Holy Spirit with doing good - as seen in Christ. In Ephesians 6:7 doing good is part of our ‘serving the Lord’, and we will be rewarded. This is our focus. With Holy Spirit power and a heart to serve the Lord, his people and his work, our zeal for doing good will be maintained.


22)# ’But there is a God in heaven.’

Daniel 2:28 (24-28)

It would have been easy for Daniel to leave this bit out. He could have just given the interpretation and taken the credit and the glory for himself. But he didn’t. With a death sentence hanging over them, Daniel and his three friends had pleaded with God for help, rather than reason with the king, as the ‘wise’ men had done. Thankfully for Daniel ‘God in heaven’ was aware of ‘goings on’ on earth. Now as he stands before the king he is quick to give the credit and glory to the Lord.

When the Lord uses us in a significant way, or gifts us to meet a specific need, it can be easy to let it boost our standing before other people or elevate us apart from the rest. Well, let’s be on our guard, and be quick to follow Daniel’s example. Let’s give all the glory to Jesus.


23)# ’Naomi was left without.’

Ruth 1:5 (1-7)

Life can leave us very empty. However good our circumstances might be one day, things can change overnight to leave us ‘without’. Naomi’s husband and sons had all died and she was left without their physical presence and without their financial support. But her emptiness causes her to return to her homeland for food and support, which is exactly where God wanted her to be as part of his eternal plan.

There are times when the Lord allows testing situations to shape us and draw us into a deeper experience of himself and a better understanding of his purposes. Sometimes the loss of things or even loved ones can cause us to rely more heavily on the Lord. Some years ago, a refugee, who had lost his wife and family in civil war, made this comment; ‘I never knew that Jesus is all I needed until Jesus is all I had.’ Whatever this life may throw at us or take from us, let’s make sure that we hold on to Jesus, because he will never let go of us.


24)# ’Taken her as his own daughter.’

Esther 2:7 (5-9)

This was a real act of kindness. We do not know whether or not Mordecai had any immediate family of his own, but he became a father to his cousin Esther, from an early age, when both her parents died.  As the story unfolds, it is clear that Esther valued Mordecai’s input into her life. How we need those in the Church of today who, like Mordecai, will provide parental oversight for young Christians.

In Titus chapter two, the apostle Paul emphasises the importance of older role-models within the Church, yet too often within church congregations, the young and old can have little to do with each other. Discipline, responsibility and answerability were embedded into Esther’s life by Mordecai and equipped her for the work God had for her to do. Maybe you and I can become like Mordecai for those who are younger in the faith. As members of the body of Christ, let’s not shirk our responsibility for helping one another to grow in our discipleship of Jesus.


25)# ’But we trust in the name of the Lord our God.’

Psalm 20:7 (1-8)

Trust is easy to talk about but harder to put into practise. Chariots and horses, spoken of by the psalmist - or our modern equivalents - are visible, touchable, controllable. But the Name of the Lord is none of these, yet its power and relevance is considerably greater.

In Jesus’ Name, demons are put to flight. In Jesus’ Name the sick are healed. In Jesus’ Name there is salvation from sin and death.

The Name of the Lord speaks of all that he is. Holy, faithful, just, righteous, majestic, glorious, victorious, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent - and more.

The Name of the Lord speaks of all that he has done. His creation, his deliverance, his provision, his protection and his salvation.

The Name of the Lord guarantees all his promises - and that includes his presence and strength now, and a new heaven and earth to come, for all who continue to trust in his name. So let’s make sure our trust is in the Name of the Lord our God, now and always.


26)# ’There stood Miriam - leprous like snow.’

Numbers 12:10 (1-15)

Jealousy can get the better of even the best of us, if we don’t deal with it. Miriam had been used by the Lord ever since she stood watch over her baby brother as he lay in a basket on the river Nile. But over time, jealousy stirred and was unchecked and it came to the surface. The grumble against Moses, was also against the Lord, who had chosen Moses as his servant.

Each one of us can be vulnerable to jealousy when we compare ourselves to others, even in the Church. Desiring the position of someone else can often mean neglecting the role God has chosen for us. It’s faithfulness, not status, that counts with the Lord. Whatever part you and I have been given, let’s do it with all our heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. It’ll help keep jealousy at bay.


27)# ’Share in his sufferings … share in his glory.’

Romans 8:17 (12-18)

The stark reality of what the Apostle Paul says here is that we can’t have one without the other. Paul, James and Peter all speak of the suffering we can expect for the sake of Christ, just as he suffered for our sake. The shame of the cross became the glory of our salvation. What Satan would use to try and bring down the Church of Jesus, God uses for his glory and for our good.

Suffering comes in all shapes and sizes and none of us is immune. Living in obedience to Christ and his Word in a rebellious and ungodly society will be costly. But just as Christ saw beyond the suffering to the glory of the cross, so we can look beyond any present difficulties, to the glory that waits for all who are children of God and co-heirs with Christ.  As Paul reminds us, ‘our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in us.’  Any suffering we endure now is for a limited time and comes before the glory, which is for eternity.


28)# ’But he is tending the sheep.’

1 Samuel 16:11 (8-12)

Where better for the chosen shepherd of Israel to be, than looking after sheep. David’s willingness to serve his father in this way was preparation for serving God as King of Israel. What others saw as befitting the youngest son, the Lord saw as ideal training for what he had in store for David.
Samuel learned a big lesson that day and so can we.

Whatever task we are given to do, it can help us to develop our character and our life of service for the Lord. David would discover that there were many similarities between caring for sheep and caring for God’s people. Irrespective of what worldly influence or qualifications we may or may not have, the Lord is looking for those with a faithful servant heart. It makes a big difference to how we do things now - and will be rewarded in the new creation.


29)# ’Doing what was just and right for all his people.’

2 Samuel 8:15 (13-18)

Whilst King David was a shepherd boy looking after his father’s sheep, he had to consider the welfare of the sheep over and above his own. Time was spent finding fresh pasture, rescuing the lost or injured, helping with the lambs and sorting out the odd scrap between rams. He could have sat at home, stayed dry and left the sheep to look after themselves, but he did what was right and best for the sheep. Years later this same quality is spoken about here and it made David a man after God’s own heart. David subdued the enemies of Israel and provided peace and security for God’s people.

You and I are called to be Christ’s ambassadors, representing him in this present world. This will involve dong what is just and right, and looking after the needs of others, even when it’s not popular. But Jesus has set us the example and now calls us, like David, to be people after his own heart.


30)# ’Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong.’

Zechariah 8:13 (9-13)

The Israelites faced an uphill task and much opposition in the rebuilding of the temple. Many years of neglect (through exile) had left a ruined building and a discouraged people. Threats from their enemies had resulted in fear, and fear had brought paralysis to the rebuilding project.

But God had promised that the temple would be rebuilt and his people would return to Jerusalem, despite the opposition. In the same way he has promised to build his Church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. And God’s promises have never failed. With all the talk of people leaving churches and the growing opposition to Biblical teaching, it’s easy to give in to fear and then become ineffective in our witness for Jesus. Instead, let’s remember Christ has already defeated Satan, sin and death and let’s draw on his strength to finish the work he’s given us to do.


31)# ’Preserve our family line through our father.’

Genesis 19:32 (30-38)

There are times when we argue that the end justifies the means, just like Lot’s two daughters. But where the means goes against God’s way of living, then there is no justification for what we do.  The incest committed by these two women led to generations of two nations living in conflict with God and his people.

Self-interest was at the heart of this scheming and we must beware of disguising self-interest with reasoned arguments. Self-interest is a fundamental part of our sinful nature and it is used to excuse, even justify, actions and attitudes that go against Biblical teaching today. But as with Lot’s two daughters, living contrary to God’s ways will, sooner or later, damage and destroy. For followers of Christ, denying self is a daily discipline, but one that is helped by seeking the interests of God’s kingdom, above our own. So let’s commit to this way of living today.