"You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love."(NIV) Galatians 5:13

Bible reading: Romans 15:1-7

Several years ago I read a story about the famous baseball player, Babe Ruth. Ruth, while playing in a game against the Reds, made a number of errors. In fact, in one inning, his errors led to the Reds scoring five runs. In large part, Babe cost his team the game.

Wouldn't you know it, the team's fans really let Ruth have it. They booed and shouted at Ruth for his errors and costing the team its victory.

If you follow sports at all, you know this is a fairly typical response. However, it's what happened next in the story that I really want to press upon your heart. Just as the crowd was shouting at "the Babe," making him feel worse than he already did, a little boy made his way to the "bigger than life" ball player and wrapped his arms around Ruth's leg to give him a great big hug. Ruth picked the boy up, and gave him a hug right back. The crowd was silenced.

Sometimes, we can be more like the jeering crowd, than the cheering boy. Instead of encouraging the heart of our neighbor, we discourage it.

Our job is to serve and minister to one another. We're to build up, not tear down. Paul said, “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.” (Rm. 15:1). Paul is saying we ought to help one another.

The apostle also said, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” (Gal. 5:13).

Today, let's be our neighbor's greatest cheerleader as we begin a new month of selflessness. Don't be like the crowd who booed the ball player off the field. Rather, be like the little boy who, with one act of kindness, changed the entire mood of the stadium and hushed the crowd. You'll be amazed at what one small act of kindness can do to brighten someone's difficult day.

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"Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” (NIV) PSALM 34: 12-14

It is the desire of many people to enjoy life to the fullest and have fulfilled dreams. This is usually understood to be going beyond meeting basic needs to life to living in luxury, pleasure and fulfilled dreams. The Psalmist discusses three basic things that affect our lives –the things we say, the things we do and our relationships with other people.

To enjoy this transient life on earth and the eternal one promised by God, we are admonished to keep our tongues from evil and our lips from telling lies. Men cannot spit forth poison without feeling some of the venom burning their own flesh. Deceit must earnestly be avoided by the man who desires happiness. Clean and honest conversation, by keeping the conscience at ease, promotes happiness. Lying and wicked talk stuffs our pillows with thorns, and makes life a constant whirl of fear and shame. Jesus admonishes us in Matthew 12:37 that- "For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned". Let us value our speech towards ourselves, our fellow workmates and children as it can mar the enjoyment of our lives. In Ephesians 4:29, we are once again advised to protect our tongues with diligence. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

From the verse 14 of Psalm 34, we are entreated to shun evil. This denotes that evil is immediate to us; it keeps close to us, and should be declined and shunned. In order to see many good days we must avoid all sorts of evil: - evil men and their evil company, evil things, evil words and works, and all appearances of evil (Gal. 5:19-21). In departing from evil, we are implored to do good. Negative goodness is not sufficient to entitle us to heaven. There are some of us who live upon negatives; we are not drunkards, we are not swearers, we are not fornicators, we do not lie and for this we pride ourselves. That’s how the Pharisee was living in Luke 18:11, "God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector". We are bid, not only to cease from evil, but to do good. In this year, let us not become weary in doing good; we should do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers, as often as we have the opportunity (Gal. 6: 9-10).

The final part of verse 14 of Psalm 34, entreats us to seek peace. Not merely prefer it, but with zeal and care we should endeavour to seek peace. Jesus is the Prince of Peace, we should seek Him and He will put His peace in our hearts. In John 16: 33, Jesus comforted the disciples with these words: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Only God can grant the calmness in our hearts to face the challenges in this world. When we get hold of this stillness in our hearts, we are admonished to promote it to our fellow men. Nothing can more effectively promote our own happiness than the peace we seek with others. Strife awakens passions which eat into the heart with corroding power. Although peace may soon be lost between us and others, we must do our best to retain it. The word of God continues to beseech us that, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Rom. 12: 18). The peace which we thus promote will be returned into our own bosom, and be a perpetual spring of comfort to us.

The value of this life is not in the length, but in the use of it. Life’s evening sun is sinking low, a few more days and we must go… To meet the deeds that we have done, where there will be no setting sun.

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"So now you gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. " (NIV) Ephesians 2: 19

It is so great to be a part of this year 2014. Last year presented its own package of challenges and successes. It should not come to us as a surprise as this year presents its packages. These packages are truly unknown to anyone except God the father. So the question will be how can we enjoy what 2014 has for us?

You and I cannot survive 2014 all by ourselves. We need God to see us through. We ought to be a part of God’s family in order to be favored. It is true God sends rains on both the wicked and the just, because he is a merciful and generous God (Matthew 5:45). But one thing is so sure; He will arise at the call of those who diligently seek him and not just to the ones who are deceiving themselves by constantly seeking after the pleasures of this world.

God is able to make all things work together for our good. So if it shall indeed be well with us in 2014, we need to be a part of God’s family. So God is able to curb all the pain and hurt that comes with each year and time in his children’s lives.

As Christians, we know that 2014 being here with us is another opportunity to give God our all because he is able to keep every promise he has made to us because we are his holy people. Beloved, no matter what this year has in stored for us, it should never discourage us. Instead , we must realize our faith will be tested and proven when we find every situation in 2014 an occasion to thank God because he is able to make a way out in all (1 Corinthians 10 : 13).

God’s loves for us is so deep that his desire is that we don’t miss out on 2014 blessings as well as the challenges that will make us strong in this world. Let’s be prepared and rest assured because God is able.

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