100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:12,920If you live for yourself, you are actually both the boss and the servant. You are kind200:00:12,920 –> 00:00:18,799of both sides of the ledge, so to speak. The demands you set are the demands you must meet.300:00:18,799 –> 00:00:22,240And so you are always in conflict with yourself.400:00:22,240 –> 00:00:27,080Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I am David Pick. It is great that you500:00:27,120 –> 00:00:33,180could join us today. And Colin, we live in a world which says to us, live for yourself.600:00:33,180 –> 00:00:37,860But you’re saying that if we do that, we won’t get the reward we expect.700:00:37,860 –> 00:00:45,099Yes, not only will it be disappointing, happiness is absolutely impossible for a person who800:00:45,099 –> 00:00:51,139lives for themselves. And I hope to demonstrate why that is in the course of the message today.900:00:51,139 –> 00:00:56,180But of course, our Lord Jesus Christ calls us to a life that’s precisely the opposite1000:00:56,220 –> 00:01:01,119of living for yourself. I mean, we have that in Second Corinthians, in Chapter 5, that1100:01:01,119 –> 00:01:07,980He, Jesus, died for all that those who live might no longer live for themselves, but for1200:01:07,980 –> 00:01:14,019Him who for their sake died and was raised. So that’s the life to which we’re called.1300:01:14,019 –> 00:01:17,800And it’s the life in which supreme happiness and joy is going to be found.1400:01:17,820 –> 00:01:22,959So join us today, if you can, in Romans Chapter 12, as we continue the message,1500:01:23,160 –> 00:01:26,739Love involves sacrifice. Here is pastor Colin.1600:01:27,239 –> 00:01:35,699Now very simply, when you became a Christian, you came to be in Christ.1700:01:35,699 –> 00:01:44,639And because you are in Christ, what was true of Jesus is also true of you.1800:01:44,639 –> 00:01:51,419Jesus died and Jesus rose again. And when you’re in Christ,1900:01:51,459 –> 00:01:56,519the same is true of you as well. The person that you were before,2000:01:56,519 –> 00:02:00,800the person living for himself or herself died.2100:02:00,800 –> 00:02:04,620And you have been raised to a whole new life.2200:02:04,620 –> 00:02:11,559That’s what Paul is referring to here, that you might walk in newness of life.2300:02:11,559 –> 00:02:16,100And of course all of this is beautifully expressed in baptism.2400:02:16,679 –> 00:02:24,720Going down into the water is a sign that the person you were has died.2500:02:24,720 –> 00:02:32,880And coming up out of the water is a sign that you are now walking in newness of life.2600:02:32,880 –> 00:02:40,080In Christ you have already died and risen. Now that’s the principle.2700:02:40,179 –> 00:02:47,220And what I want us to see today is how it works out in practice.2800:02:47,220 –> 00:02:59,500First, you can grow in love because having died you are no longer a slave to yourself.2900:02:59,500 –> 00:03:02,039What a wonderful truth this is.3000:03:02,039 –> 00:03:08,240Because in Christ you have died already, you are no longer a slave to yourself.3100:03:08,240 –> 00:03:13,179And that is why and how you can love.3200:03:13,179 –> 00:03:18,759You see this very clearly in 2 Corinthians 5, verses 14-15.3300:03:18,759 –> 00:03:27,160Notice how Paul speaks about love here, for the love of Christ controls us.3400:03:27,160 –> 00:03:32,960Because we have concluded this, that one has died for all, therefore all have died.3500:03:33,119 –> 00:03:40,979And he died for all that those who live, might no longer live for themselves, but for him3600:03:41,000 –> 00:03:44,919who for their sake died and was raised.3700:03:44,919 –> 00:03:46,979Now what a marvelous statement this is.3800:03:46,979 –> 00:03:51,740The love of Christ controls us.3900:03:51,740 –> 00:03:56,080Who would not want to be able to say that?4000:03:56,080 –> 00:04:00,679The love of Christ controls me.4100:04:00,679 –> 00:04:02,679What would that mean?4200:04:02,679 –> 00:04:10,160Well it would mean that the love of Christ restrains me from speaking a harsh or a hurtful4300:04:10,160 –> 00:04:11,639word.4400:04:11,639 –> 00:04:19,160It would mean that the love of Christ moves me to care and to bless and to support others.4500:04:19,160 –> 00:04:32,100A life controlled by the love of Christ would be energized, moved, directed, active.4600:04:32,100 –> 00:04:39,640Love would reach into and touch the lives of other people, inasmuch as we are controlled4700:04:39,640 –> 00:04:42,660by the love of Christ.4800:04:42,660 –> 00:04:46,779Now, how does this come about?4900:04:46,779 –> 00:04:49,559That’s Paul’s purpose in these verses.5000:04:49,559 –> 00:04:54,700How is it that a person comes to be controlled by the love of Christ?5100:04:54,700 –> 00:05:00,320Well notice what he says, the love of Christ controls us because we have concluded this5200:05:00,320 –> 00:05:06,500that one has died for all and therefore all have died.5300:05:06,500 –> 00:05:13,299You see, he’s picking up the same wonderful truth that we just saw in Romans Chapter 6,5400:05:13,299 –> 00:05:20,299that if you are in Christ, you have already died.5500:05:20,299 –> 00:05:27,100And what is the effect of the person you were already having died?5600:05:27,239 –> 00:05:29,359Well he says this,5700:05:29,359 –> 00:05:36,140that having died, they might no longer live for themselves.5800:05:36,140 –> 00:05:39,100No longer live for themselves.5900:05:39,100 –> 00:05:41,179No longer.6000:05:41,179 –> 00:05:45,380So you see, living for yourself is actually the default life.6100:05:45,380 –> 00:05:47,260That’s just how we all start out.6200:05:47,260 –> 00:05:49,140That’s what we are by nature.6300:05:49,140 –> 00:05:53,359The Bible says this quite clearly, in Philippians, in Chapter 2 and Verse 21.6400:05:53,359 –> 00:05:58,980We all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.6500:05:58,980 –> 00:06:02,040Everyone seeks their own interest,6600:06:02,040 –> 00:06:06,320and unless something changes,6700:06:06,320 –> 00:06:11,959we all default to living for ourselves.6800:06:11,959 –> 00:06:16,239Now living for yourself might sound attractive,6900:06:16,239 –> 00:06:18,839but actually, if you think about it,7000:06:18,839 –> 00:06:22,299nothing could ever be more miserable.7100:06:22,859 –> 00:06:28,119to live for yourself.7200:06:28,619 –> 00:06:30,540If you live for yourself,7300:06:30,540 –> 00:06:32,019you’re the one that’s doing the living,7400:06:32,019 –> 00:06:34,980and you’re the one that’s being lived for.7500:06:35,459 –> 00:06:39,859So, if you live for yourself,7600:06:39,859 –> 00:06:42,959you are actually both the boss and the servant,7700:06:42,959 –> 00:06:46,380you’re kind of both sides of the ledger, so to speak.7800:06:46,380 –> 00:06:52,100The demands that you set are the demands that you must meet.7900:06:52,100 –> 00:06:55,320And so, you’re always in conflict with yourself.8000:06:55,320 –> 00:06:57,940If you live for yourself,8100:06:57,940 –> 00:07:01,760you’re going to find yourself constantly in this very strange position8200:07:01,760 –> 00:07:04,339of beating up on yourself,8300:07:04,339 –> 00:07:07,820you’re going to look at your life and self, the boss,8400:07:07,820 –> 00:07:10,519is going to say, well, you should have accomplished more,8500:07:11,000 –> 00:07:14,220and then self, the servant gets beat up on8600:07:14,220 –> 00:07:17,059because of underperforming.8700:07:17,779 –> 00:07:19,299And that goes on8800:07:20,000 –> 00:07:23,079until at some point you say, well, this is… I’m not happy.8900:07:23,339 –> 00:07:26,500This isn’t working. I need to lighten up on myself,9000:07:26,500 –> 00:07:28,160and that thought will occur to you.9100:07:28,940 –> 00:07:32,220I’m being too hard on myself, I need to give myself a break.9200:07:32,220 –> 00:07:35,640And so, now you lighten up on yourself,9300:07:36,679 –> 00:07:38,839except you’ve still got a problem,9400:07:39,920 –> 00:07:43,260because self, the servant, gets let off the hook9500:07:43,260 –> 00:07:45,799and now self, the master,9600:07:45,799 –> 00:07:48,299doesn’t get what he or she wants.9700:07:49,660 –> 00:07:54,519Living for yourself is an absolute nightmare.9800:07:56,179 –> 00:07:58,700When you lay it out as the master,9900:07:59,959 –> 00:08:02,980you end up crushing yourself as the servant.10000:08:04,040 –> 00:08:06,920And when you lighten up on yourself as the servant,10100:08:07,700 –> 00:08:11,299you end up being shortchanged as self, the master.10200:08:11,579 –> 00:08:15,179You can never, never win.10300:08:16,079 –> 00:08:19,700Now what Paul is saying in this marvellous verse10400:08:20,420 –> 00:08:23,399is that when you come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,10500:08:23,399 –> 00:08:25,040you are actually delivered10600:08:25,040 –> 00:08:29,739from the miserable existence of living for yourself.10700:08:30,739 –> 00:08:32,919You’re now a new creation in Christ.10800:08:34,200 –> 00:08:37,140You’ve been set free from this misery,10900:08:37,140 –> 00:08:40,460you’ve been brought into a new liberty11000:08:40,460 –> 00:08:44,260of living for Christ who loved you and gives you.11100:08:45,219 –> 00:08:46,940And gave himself for you.11200:08:47,820 –> 00:08:52,460And the good news is that a life of saying no to self11300:08:52,460 –> 00:08:55,979in order to bring blessing to others11400:08:55,979 –> 00:09:00,619goes with the grain of the new creation11500:09:00,619 –> 00:09:03,179that you are in Jesus Christ.11600:09:04,780 –> 00:09:09,239Some of you will know the name of Eric Little.11700:09:09,239 –> 00:09:13,700His story is told in the movie, Chariots Of Fire.11800:09:13,739 –> 00:09:17,200Little was an Olympic athlete11900:09:17,200 –> 00:09:19,820and he said on one occasion,12000:09:19,820 –> 00:09:22,719”God made me fast12100:09:23,619 –> 00:09:28,119”and when I run I feel his pleasure.”12200:09:29,200 –> 00:09:34,200See, running was going with the grain for Eric Little.12300:09:35,760 –> 00:09:37,340He was made for it.12400:09:37,340 –> 00:09:39,239No doubt training was hard work for him12500:09:39,239 –> 00:09:40,919as it would be for anyone else,12600:09:40,919 –> 00:09:44,159but God made him fast,12700:09:44,159 –> 00:09:46,880God made him to run.12800:09:48,200 –> 00:09:51,700Now, when you were in Christ,12900:09:51,700 –> 00:09:53,260you can say,13000:09:53,260 –> 00:09:56,539”God made me to love’13100:09:57,520 –> 00:10:02,520and when you love you will feel his pleasure.’13200:10:04,880 –> 00:10:07,840The last thing you want to do is a Christian believer13300:10:07,840 –> 00:10:09,239is to live for yourself.13400:10:10,039 –> 00:10:11,460You died to that,13500:10:12,359 –> 00:10:15,320when you came to be in Christ.13600:10:15,320 –> 00:10:17,559You’ve risen to a whole new life13700:10:17,559 –> 00:10:20,280in the power of the Holy Spirit of God,13800:10:20,280 –> 00:10:22,400and when you love at love,13900:10:22,400 –> 00:10:24,960you are going with the grain14000:10:24,960 –> 00:10:29,359of the new life that you now enjoy in Jesus Christ.14100:10:29,359 –> 00:10:30,179When you say,14200:10:30,179 –> 00:10:34,039”no’ to self’ in order to bring blessing to others14300:10:34,039 –> 00:10:37,119you are being who you are.’14400:10:38,039 –> 00:10:42,799And that is why you will experience peace and joy14500:10:42,799 –> 00:10:46,760when you pursue a life of love.14600:10:46,760 –> 00:10:48,000You’re listening to Open the Bible14700:10:48,000 –> 00:10:49,280with Pastor Colin Smith,14800:10:49,280 –> 00:10:51,919and we’ve got to pause the message briefly there,14900:10:51,919 –> 00:10:53,000but we’ll be back shortly,15000:10:53,000 –> 00:10:55,080so do stay with us.15100:10:55,080 –> 00:10:56,080The message is called15200:10:56,080 –> 00:10:58,039Love Involves Sacrifice,15300:10:58,039 –> 00:10:59,380and it’s part of our series.15400:10:59,380 –> 00:11:01,479In fact, its’ the last part of our series15500:11:01,479 –> 00:11:03,179called Grow In Love.15600:11:03,179 –> 00:11:04,820If you’ve missed any of the series,15700:11:04,820 –> 00:11:06,440do come and find the messages15800:11:06,599 –> 00:11:07,880that you’ve missed online at our website,15900:11:07,880 –> 00:11:11,820openthebible.org.uk,16000:11:11,820 –> 00:11:13,520and also available as a podcast16100:11:13,520 –> 00:11:15,099on all the main podcast sites,16200:11:15,099 –> 00:11:17,739so search therefore Open the Bible UK,16300:11:17,739 –> 00:11:20,460or follow the links from our website.16400:11:20,460 –> 00:11:21,539Back to the message now.16500:11:21,539 –> 00:11:23,780We’re in Romans Chapter 12.16600:11:23,780 –> 00:11:25,820Here again is Pastor Colin.16700:11:25,820 –> 00:11:28,539How can we grow in love?16800:11:29,619 –> 00:11:32,179You can grow in love16900:11:32,179 –> 00:11:34,419because having died,17000:11:34,440 –> 00:11:37,979you are no longer a slave to yourself.17100:11:38,960 –> 00:11:41,659And then the second thing I want us to see today is this,17200:11:41,659 –> 00:11:42,659and it’s very wonderful,17300:11:42,659 –> 00:11:44,500that you can grow in love17400:11:44,500 –> 00:11:46,419because having risen,17500:11:47,320 –> 00:11:50,460you enjoy an endless life.17600:11:52,020 –> 00:11:53,820Now it’s the apostle John17700:11:53,820 –> 00:11:58,520who records the scene at the Last Supper,17800:11:58,520 –> 00:12:00,539the night when Jesus was betrayed,17900:12:00,559 –> 00:12:05,559when Jesus beautifully washed the feet of his disciples.18000:12:06,859 –> 00:12:11,859It was a stunning expression of humble, serving love.18100:12:14,219 –> 00:12:16,119How did Jesus do this?18200:12:17,500 –> 00:12:21,260Especially on the night that he knew he would be betrayed,18300:12:22,219 –> 00:12:24,780the night that was ahead of all that he suffered,18400:12:26,260 –> 00:12:28,179especially because his disciples,18500:12:28,179 –> 00:12:29,260when they should have known better,18600:12:29,419 –> 00:12:31,119were getting into a foolish argument18700:12:31,119 –> 00:12:33,020about who was the greatest.18800:12:34,700 –> 00:12:36,500And what the Lord Jesus Christ does18900:12:36,500 –> 00:12:38,739is not thinking of himself.19000:12:38,739 –> 00:12:43,739He gives himself to this marvelous expression19100:12:43,900 –> 00:12:48,619of humble, serving love towards his own disciples.19200:12:48,619 –> 00:12:50,099How did he do it?19300:12:52,239 –> 00:12:53,580Well, John tells us.19400:12:54,640 –> 00:12:57,099John in chapter 13 in verse three,19500:12:57,679 –> 00:13:01,659he says Jesus knowing19600:13:02,659 –> 00:13:04,619that he had come from God19700:13:05,520 –> 00:13:07,820and was going back to God19800:13:09,159 –> 00:13:11,520rose from the supper.19900:13:11,520 –> 00:13:15,760He laid aside his outer garments and taking a towel,20000:13:15,760 –> 00:13:18,320tied it around his waist.20100:13:18,320 –> 00:13:19,880Now you see what John’s saying?20200:13:20,960 –> 00:13:24,599Jesus knew what lay ahead of him.20300:13:25,460 –> 00:13:28,520He knew that he was going back to God.20400:13:29,659 –> 00:13:33,580He knew that the endless joy of life20500:13:33,580 –> 00:13:37,820in the presence of the father was what was in store for him.20600:13:37,820 –> 00:13:42,820And knowing this, he was free to serve.20700:13:47,000 –> 00:13:50,919Put yourself for a moment with me20800:13:50,919 –> 00:13:55,820in the shoes of someone who does not have eternal life.20900:13:57,320 –> 00:13:58,859I want you to think about this.21000:14:00,599 –> 00:14:05,599Your life in this world is the best you will ever know.21100:14:08,539 –> 00:14:10,599And your life in this world is short.21200:14:12,500 –> 00:14:16,419And so you are always worried about it slipping away.21300:14:17,320 –> 00:14:20,619If the only good you’re ever going to enjoy21400:14:20,619 –> 00:14:23,159is what you get here and now,21500:14:23,159 –> 00:14:26,799you will live in the constant fear of missing out.21600:14:29,219 –> 00:14:31,599And with so little life,21700:14:32,799 –> 00:14:35,500if something should happen in your experience21800:14:35,500 –> 00:14:39,880that harms or shortens this little life that you have,21900:14:39,880 –> 00:14:43,140you will feel a sense of ultimate loss.22000:14:43,340 –> 00:14:46,380All I have is this little stretch of life22100:14:48,640 –> 00:14:50,900and now it’s all been spoiled.22200:14:53,440 –> 00:14:55,619Without eternal life, you’re going to be drawn22300:14:55,619 –> 00:14:57,580to one of two alternatives.22400:14:57,580 –> 00:15:01,080Either you’re going to throw yourself recklessly22500:15:01,080 –> 00:15:04,419into a life of indulgence, try everything,22600:15:04,419 –> 00:15:05,520eat, drink and be merry.22700:15:05,520 –> 00:15:08,799For tomorrow, we die, just live it up.22800:15:08,799 –> 00:15:13,679Or you’re going to live with a sense of constant fear,22900:15:14,580 –> 00:15:19,479grasping onto what you have trying desperately23000:15:19,479 –> 00:15:22,520not to let it slip through your fingers.23100:15:25,280 –> 00:15:28,479But brothers and sisters in the Lord, Jesus Christ,23200:15:28,479 –> 00:15:32,559we have life everlasting,23300:15:34,099 –> 00:15:35,099everlasting,23400:15:35,940 –> 00:15:40,940life inexhaustible never ending,23500:15:43,299 –> 00:15:47,059pleasures greater by far than anything that we can know23600:15:47,059 –> 00:15:47,900in this life23700:15:47,900 –> 00:15:50,039and in this world and it’s very best,23800:15:50,039 –> 00:15:53,559they are stored up forever and forever for you23900:15:53,559 –> 00:15:55,640in the presence of the Father.24000:15:57,020 –> 00:16:02,020And knowing this puts you in an entirely different position24100:16:02,619 –> 00:16:04,799throughout the days and months and years24200:16:04,799 –> 00:16:06,219of your life in this world.24300:16:06,219 –> 00:16:08,719When you know you have eternal life,24400:16:08,719 –> 00:16:13,580you can offer yourself as a living sacrifice.24500:16:13,580 –> 00:16:16,479You can give yourself to the service of others,24600:16:16,479 –> 00:16:18,640you can offer yourself into the hands24700:16:18,640 –> 00:16:21,419of the Lord Jesus Christ and knowing his love for you,24800:16:21,419 –> 00:16:24,080that is precisely what you will want to do.24900:16:26,340 –> 00:16:28,280When you know that having risen,25000:16:29,099 –> 00:16:30,760you enjoy an endless life,25100:16:32,940 –> 00:16:37,940you will be delivered from the haunting fear of missing out25200:16:41,479 –> 00:16:46,419and if the life that you had hoped to enjoy25300:16:47,460 –> 00:16:51,539is in some way harmed or spoiled25400:16:52,739 –> 00:16:55,900or unexpectedly shortened,25500:16:57,659 –> 00:16:58,739you will grieve25600:16:59,739 –> 00:17:01,500but you will do this25700:17:03,099 –> 00:17:07,180knowing that you have an endless life25800:17:07,579 –> 00:17:12,439of unclouded joy that stretches eternally in front of you25900:17:15,000 –> 00:17:17,280and that makes all the difference in the world.26000:17:20,739 –> 00:17:22,300How can I grow in love?26100:17:24,140 –> 00:17:26,040Well, as we saw last week,26200:17:26,800 –> 00:17:30,099we can grow in love because we are loved.26300:17:31,439 –> 00:17:32,800And today we’re adding these two26400:17:32,939 –> 00:17:36,300further marvelous answers to this question.26500:17:36,880 –> 00:17:39,680You can grow in love because having died,26600:17:39,800 –> 00:17:42,780you are no longer a slave to yourself,26700:17:43,939 –> 00:17:47,900and you can grow in love because having risen,26800:17:48,800 –> 00:17:53,239you enjoy an endless life.26900:17:56,839 –> 00:18:00,880Some of you will know the name of Amie Carmichael,27000:18:01,000 –> 00:18:03,880a marvelous lady who served27100:18:04,000 –> 00:18:06,579the Lord Jesus Christ as a missionary in India27200:18:06,699 –> 00:18:12,739for 55 years, an extraordinary life of love.27300:18:13,540 –> 00:18:16,739Amie Carmichael wrote an extended meditation27400:18:17,040 –> 00:18:20,540on what she called calvary love.27500:18:21,339 –> 00:18:23,900That is, love that sacrifices.27600:18:24,859 –> 00:18:29,160That’s what Jesus did when he laid down his life at Calvary.27700:18:30,359 –> 00:18:33,359Let me read just seven sentences27800:18:33,939 –> 00:18:37,099from what Amie Carmichael wrote.27900:18:39,140 –> 00:18:43,199If I have not compassion on my fellow servant,28000:18:43,599 –> 00:18:46,300even as my Lord had pity on me,28100:18:47,560 –> 00:18:51,140then I know nothing of calvary love.28200:18:51,939 –> 00:18:55,599If I can easily discuss the shortcomings28300:18:55,599 –> 00:18:57,900and the sins of others,28400:18:58,839 –> 00:19:02,540then I know nothing of calvary love.28500:19:04,040 –> 00:19:07,380If I can write an unkind letter,28600:19:08,140 –> 00:19:10,099speak an unkind word,28700:19:10,099 –> 00:19:14,180think an unkind thought without grief and shame,28800:19:14,979 –> 00:19:18,939then I know nothing of calvary love.28900:19:18,979 –> 00:19:22,479If my thoughts revolve around myself,29000:19:23,900 –> 00:19:26,280if I am so occupied with myself29100:19:26,280 –> 00:19:30,140that I rarely have a heart at leisure from itself,29200:19:30,140 –> 00:19:34,339then I know nothing of calvary love.29300:19:36,079 –> 00:19:40,000If I do not give a friend the benefit of the doubt,29400:19:41,000 –> 00:19:43,780but put the worst construction instead of the best29500:19:43,780 –> 00:19:45,380on what is said or done,29600:19:46,380 –> 00:19:49,020then I know nothing of calvary love.29700:19:51,380 –> 00:19:54,239If I take offense easily,29800:19:54,239 –> 00:19:58,439if I’m content to continue in a cool unfriendliness,29900:19:58,439 –> 00:20:00,619though friendship be possible,30000:20:01,719 –> 00:20:04,780then I know nothing of calvary love.30100:20:06,119 –> 00:20:07,780If I say,30200:20:07,780 –> 00:20:12,140yes, I forgive, but I cannot forget,30300:20:12,180 –> 00:20:15,400as though the god who twice a day30400:20:15,400 –> 00:20:19,579washes all the sands on all the shores of all the world30500:20:19,579 –> 00:20:23,079could not wash such memories from my mind,30600:20:23,939 –> 00:20:27,900then I know nothing of calvary love.30700:20:29,800 –> 00:20:34,800Our series has been entitled Growing in Love.30800:20:36,180 –> 00:20:38,540So I want to close it by saying it this way30900:20:38,699 –> 00:20:41,040So I want to close it by saying it this way,31000:20:43,439 –> 00:20:46,359growing love and you will be patient,31100:20:47,920 –> 00:20:51,459growing love and you will be kind.31200:20:52,680 –> 00:20:56,859Growing love and you will always have hope,31300:20:58,199 –> 00:21:01,640growing love and you will be freed from resentment,31400:21:02,579 –> 00:21:05,540growing love and you will be able to forgive,31500:21:06,280 –> 00:21:10,920growing love and you will deny yourself,31600:21:12,420 –> 00:21:15,939growing love and you will take up your cross,31700:21:17,359 –> 00:21:22,359growing love and you will be a disciple of Jesus,31800:21:24,319 –> 00:21:29,319growing love and you will shine like a light in this world.31900:21:31,959 –> 00:21:33,400Pastor Colin Smith there,32000:21:33,459 –> 00:21:36,579ending on message, Love involves sacrifice.32100:21:36,579 –> 00:21:39,859It’s the final message in our series, grow in love,32200:21:39,859 –> 00:21:41,579and if you’ve missed any of the series32300:21:41,579 –> 00:21:43,780or you want to go back and listen again,32400:21:43,780 –> 00:21:45,219do come to our website.32500:21:45,219 –> 00:21:48,199That’s at OpenTheBible.org.UK32600:21:48,199 –> 00:21:50,900and there, you’ll find all the messages in the series.32700:21:50,900 –> 00:21:52,859You can also find them as a podcast32800:21:52,859 –> 00:21:55,260and those are on all the main podcast sites.32900:21:55,260 –> 00:21:58,939You can find them by searching for Open The Bible UK33000:21:58,939 –> 00:22:01,739or by following the link from our website.33100:22:01,739 –> 00:22:04,680What if you could go on a hike with Pastor Colin33200:22:04,680 –> 00:22:08,160through the Bible story, see how it all fits together33300:22:08,160 –> 00:22:10,739and how it all points to Jesus.33400:22:10,739 –> 00:22:13,760Well, now you can with the new podcast,33500:22:13,760 –> 00:22:15,359Hike Through The Bible.33600:22:15,359 –> 00:22:17,219Yeah, and this is for everyone33700:22:17,219 –> 00:22:19,540who wants to understand the Bible better33800:22:19,540 –> 00:22:22,459and for everyone who wants to love Jesus more.33900:22:22,459 –> 00:22:25,640In each episode, I’ll read a chapter from my book,34000:22:25,640 –> 00:22:27,040Hike Through The Bible34100:22:27,040 –> 00:22:29,359and then I’ll discuss it with some friends.34200:22:29,359 –> 00:22:31,880A new episode releases every week34300:22:31,880 –> 00:22:35,260and so you can take this hike at a gentle pace.34400:22:35,260 –> 00:22:39,060In a year, you’ll have covered the entire Bible story.34500:22:39,060 –> 00:22:42,199I really hope that you’ll join me on this journey34600:22:42,199 –> 00:22:44,680and it’s not too late to get started now.34700:22:44,680 –> 00:22:48,060Well, you can subscribe to Hike Through The Bible podcast34800:22:48,060 –> 00:22:49,939wherever you get your podcasts34900:22:49,939 –> 00:22:52,280and you can find out more information35000:22:52,280 –> 00:22:57,060on our website, openthebible.org.uk.35100:22:57,060 –> 00:22:59,140At Open The Bible we’re able to do the work35200:22:59,140 –> 00:23:01,540we do in bringing you the radio program35300:23:01,540 –> 00:23:04,079and the internet and the podcasts35400:23:04,079 –> 00:23:06,319only because of the generous support35500:23:06,319 –> 00:23:08,079which we receive from our listeners.35600:23:08,079 –> 00:23:09,239So, if you already give35700:23:09,239 –> 00:23:13,160to support Open The Bible’s work, thank you so much.35800:23:13,160 –> 00:23:14,619This month, if you want to begin35900:23:14,619 –> 00:23:16,839to support Open The Bible financially,36000:23:16,839 –> 00:23:20,040we’d love to say thank you by sending you a free gift.36100:23:20,040 –> 00:23:22,719Here’s Open The Bible’s Amanda Cunningham36200:23:22,719 –> 00:23:24,040to tell us about it.36300:23:24,040 –> 00:23:26,500Everyone needs something to look forward to36400:23:26,500 –> 00:23:28,119but when life is difficult,36500:23:28,359 –> 00:23:31,920hope can feel distant and hard to hold on to.36600:23:31,920 –> 00:23:33,660That’s why we’re delighted36700:23:33,660 –> 00:23:37,079to offer Grow In Hope by Colin Smith.36800:23:37,079 –> 00:23:39,180This 30-day devotional is designed36900:23:39,180 –> 00:23:41,939to help you fix your eyes on God’s promises37000:23:41,939 –> 00:23:46,439and find fresh encouragement even in challenging seasons.37100:23:46,439 –> 00:23:49,660Through daily Bible readings and practical reflections,37200:23:49,660 –> 00:23:51,760Pastor Colin explores what it means37300:23:51,760 –> 00:23:53,979to have a living hope in Christ,37400:23:53,979 –> 00:23:56,020a hope that sustains us in trials,37500:23:56,079 –> 00:23:58,339strengthens us in uncertainty37600:23:58,339 –> 00:24:01,020and gives us confidence for the future.37700:24:01,020 –> 00:24:04,239Drawing on scripture and years of pastoral experience,37800:24:04,239 –> 00:24:07,780he shows us how hope is not wishful thinking37900:24:07,780 –> 00:24:12,420but a certainty grounded in God’s character and promises.38000:24:12,420 –> 00:24:14,380Grow In Hope can be read on its own38100:24:14,380 –> 00:24:18,140or alongside Grow In Faith and Grow In Love38200:24:18,140 –> 00:24:20,239as part of a devotional journey38300:24:20,239 –> 00:24:22,500through the enduring Christian virtues38400:24:22,500 –> 00:24:25,160of faith, hope, and love.38500:24:25,180 –> 00:24:27,599Get your free copy today when you give38600:24:27,599 –> 00:24:30,400a one-off gift of at least 60 pounds38700:24:30,400 –> 00:24:34,599or set up a new monthly gift of five pounds or more.38800:24:34,599 –> 00:24:37,199But please do remember to leave your name38900:24:37,199 –> 00:24:38,719and address when you give39000:24:38,719 –> 00:24:41,400so that we know where to send your book.39100:24:41,400 –> 00:24:44,040So, Pastor Colin’s book Grow In Hope39200:24:44,040 –> 00:24:46,939is our gift to you when you set up a new direct debit39300:24:46,939 –> 00:24:48,560to the work of Ope and the Bible39400:24:48,560 –> 00:24:51,239in the amount of five pounds per month or more39500:24:51,239 –> 00:24:54,719or a one-off gift of 60 pounds or more this month.39600:24:54,800 –> 00:24:57,040Full terms and conditions are on our website39700:24:57,040 –> 00:24:58,760and you can give online.39800:24:58,760 –> 00:25:00,520Please remember though, as Amanda says,39900:25:00,520 –> 00:25:02,280to leave your full name and address40000:25:02,280 –> 00:25:04,439so we can send you your gift.40100:25:04,439 –> 00:25:05,439For Ope and the Bible40200:25:05,439 –> 00:25:07,839and Pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pick,40300:25:07,839 –> 00:25:09,160glad you joined us today40400:25:09,160 –> 00:25:11,000and I hope you’ll be able to join us again40500:25:11,000 –> 00:25:12,040in our next program.40600:25:17,719 –> 00:25:20,760Jesus is all you need for faith.40700:25:20,760 –> 00:25:23,599But is he all you need for life?40800:25:23,599 –> 00:25:26,400Discover the extraordinary claim of the Bible40900:25:26,400 –> 00:25:28,280next time on Ope and the Bible.