Answering the Call to Serve in Love.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”
Galatians 5:13 English Standard Version

This inflatable bumble bee is one of my favorite entries from the 2016 Colorado Balloon Classic. My entire family could not help but smile when they saw the bee smiling back with arms outstretched, as if it wanted a big hug.

While we were infatuated with many of the balloons that launched that day, the black and yellow happy bee that drifted above the pine trees really pulled us in. It seemed to want to live in the clouds. We tracked it from our car on the way home from the event.

In his writings to the early Christian communities near Galatia, Paul reiterates that while they had gained their freedom through Christ, they were to use that liberty to serve each other rather than their own earthly desires. Paul knew that justification of blatant sin, under the guise of forgiveness, would stifle the church and the entire message of salvation and love.

I struggle with the temptations of this world. Daily following Christ’s example to love and serve one another is hard. I often fail miserably. Many days, I want my “me time,” and the focus shifts toward my own happiness and satisfaction. While I do have freedom from sin through His sacrifice, my call to action should not end with Christ’s death and resurrection.

My unique abilities and life experiences give me the framework to encourage and share with others. If I continue to only use those gifts for the pursuits of this world, am I not missing the point and the chance to share Christ’s love and grace?

Lord, help me today to not fixate on my own desires, but rather, to be your light toward the path of freedom for others.

 Photo and Text Copyright: Darcia Kunkel