"The Ministry of Kindness" by J. R. Miller, 1902

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved—clothe yourselves with compassion,kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:12

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23

 Nothing is more worth while, than kindness. Nothing else in life is more beautiful in itself. Nothing else does more to brighten the world, and sweeten other lives.

Robert Louis Stevenson said in a letter: "It is our kindnesses, that alone makes the world tolerable. If it were not for that—I would be tempted to think that our life is a practical jest in the worst possible spirit."

The man whose life lacks habitual kindliness may succeed splendidly in a worldly sense. He may win his way to high honor. He may gather his millions. He may climb to a conspicuous place among men. But he has missed that which alone gives beauty to a life—the joy and blessing of being kind. There are men who are so intent on winning the race, that they have neither eye nor heart nor hand for the human needs along the wayside. Here and there is one, however, who thinks more of the humanities, than of the personal success; that woos him forward, and who turns aside in his busiest hour to give help and cheer to those who need.

There is always this difference in men. There are those who have only one purpose in life, the making of their own career. They fix their eye upon their goal, and press toward it with indomitable persistence, utterly unheeding the calls and appeals of human need which break upon their ears. They fail altogether in love's duty. They dwarf and deaden the qualities which are divinest in their nature.

"The Duty of Self-Denial by Thomas Watson, 1675

Christian Reader, The weightiness of the argument here discoursed on justly merits a larger volume. But I have contracted it, so that it may possibly come into more hands. I must profess I do not know a more necessary point in divinity. Self-denial is the first principle of Christianity! It is the life-blood which must run through the whole body of piety. Self-denial is not learned at an academy, but from the oracles of Scripture. It is my request to the reader to pursue this manual with seriousness, knowing that the practice of self-denial is that wherein his salvation is nearly concerned. "May the Lord work with His Word and cause the dew of His blessing to fall with this manna," is the prayer of, Your Friend and Servant in the Gospel, Thomas Watson, 1675   1. Exposition of the verse. "And He said to them all—If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself." Luke 9:23 "All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16. The Word is compared to a lamp for its illuminating quality, Psalm 119:105, and to refined silver for its enriching quality, Psalm 12:6. Among other parts of sacred writ, this is not the least, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself." These words are dropped from the lips of Christ, the oracle of truth. In the preceding verse, our blessed Savior foretold His suffering, "The Son of Man must suffer many things." And His suffering is set down in two expressions: 1. He must be rejected. Thus He was the "stone which the builders rejected," Psalm 118:22. 2. He must be slain. This diamond must be cut! He who gave life to others, must Himself die. And as Christ thus abased Himself for us—so we must deny ourselves for Him. "And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself." Self-denial is the foundation of godliness, and if this is not well laid, all the building will fall. Let me explain the words: 1. "And He said to them all." Self-denial is of universal extent. It concerns all; it respects both ministers and people. Christ spoke it as well to His apostles as to the rest of His hearers. 2. "If any man will come after Me." That is--if he will arrive at that place of glory where I am going--"let him deny himself." 3. "Let him deny himself." Beza and Erasmus render it, "Let him lay aside or reject himself." Self-denial is a kind of self-annihilation. The words have two parts: First, a supposal: "If any man will come after Me." Second, an imposal: "Let him deny himself." These words are not only a permission—but an injunction. It carries in it the force of the command. It is as if a king should say, "Let it be enacted." The PROPOSITION I shall insist on, is that a true Christian must be a self-denier. "Let him deny himself."