We frustrate the Gospel when we make Christ’s teaching all about us. ‘He wants to bless you’. ‘He has a plan for your life’. ‘He wants to heal you’. ‘He will set you free’. Honestly, I feel sick hearing a message only deepening our ‘selfie’ obsession and self-absorption. Self-centred living, even when it’s dressed up in Christian clothing can only deliver misery. The essence of His Kingdom is laying down our lives and taking up our cross. We do His will whether it benefits us or not. ‘What’s in it for me?’ is not our language.

Serving is helping people at personal cost to ourselves. It involves sacrifice. Those who have understood the power of serving other people can tell this story repeatedly. When we serve others by meeting their needs and healing their hurts, we are effective in connecting them with God. Visible love opens invisible hearts. Instead of selling Jesus, we should try serving Him to people. Instead of just witnessing to people, we need to be a witness. Francis of Assisi said, ‘Witness all the time, and if necessary, use words’.

If we add a high sense of responsibility to efficiency thinking, we will inevitably pick up more than we can carry, emotionally, mentally and physically.

There is a depth of consciousness we cannot plumb apart from being still. Deep thoughts surface slowly, crystallising into conscious thought, like the proverbial light bulb. We see it! We see ourselves.

Lazy people look for the big win, the breakthrough, the deal of a lifetime, the hit song, their big break. Sure, these things happen. Sometimes, but rarely. Don't count on them.

The pathway of the lazy is the fastest route to poverty. You might not be lazy all over, but most of us are lazy in one, or two areas.

Maybe we’ve got it wrong. This New Year’s resolution idea. We all know the numbers. No-one sticks with their ‘resolutions’. Time for something new. OK.

Living the fully persuaded life, the convinced life, the life of faith, means that we put our faith in the Word of God - more specifically, the Promises of God. Peter was one of those who understood what this meant more keenly than anyone else.