This Is How We Build A NationSample

Love that Fights. What do you fight for? Love must be at the centre of all we do. It must be the reason why we do what we do. Love is central to everything Jesus did. When we think about real love, it is active, it fights, it doesn’t just walk by and ignore the problems. 'Real Love will get you dirty, it will get misunderstood, it may cost you your reputation, it will not be easy, but showing real genuine authentic love is when the real you comes alive.’ Phil Dooley (Lead pastor Hillsong Church South Africa). We’ve got to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves, for the next generation and for our hearts to remain healthy and unified. Do we fight for the lost? Are you prepared to count the cost to see people come to know Christ for the first time? What about to see a passion for Him be awakened in the hearts of believers? Are you prepared to give up your seat, park further away from church, stand in a queue and wait for the service to start? Will you grumble and leave or stay and celebrate? It is one thing for us to say that we long to see an outpouring of the Spirit that leads to many coming to know Christ as their personal Saviour and to find their home in the church. It is another for us to pay a personal cost to our own comfort or routine to make room for others to encounter God. Being selfless - placing other’s needs above our own - is not a natural human characteristic. Our natural instinct is to look after ourselves and loved ones first and consider others as a secondary priority. In contrast, Jesus’ example was one of servanthood. Continually, He served those who were around Him putting aside Himself to prioritise OTHERS. Take some time today to wander through the gospels (the books Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and look for your own examples of Jesus’ selflessness, allowing them to challenge you personally. Mark them in some way so that you can be challenged by them at a later time. Consider how selflessness and generosity go hand in hand. How can you put your own wants and needs aside to be generous with your love, time, words, skills and gifts? How can you fight for someone else's freedom today? Take a moment to do a little heart check, asking God to reveal areas where you may not yet be willing to pay a personal cost for others’ salvation. Allow Him to stretch you in this area. Make a list and highlight three that you can do today to serve someone else.