“Don’t indulge-serve”

“You my brothers and sisters were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh, rather, serve one another humbly in love.” Galatians 5:13

Verse reflections:  Once again, God is reminding us that we have the freedom to access God’s power or indulge in ourselves.  We can choose to love God, serve others or serve ourselves.  Every day, three times a day, we eat, we serve ourselves.  How many times a day do we serve others?  We are wealthy enough to have the freedom to choose what we eat, how much we eat.  We can choose to indulge in unhealthy foods or even too much of healthy foods.  OR we can use this freedom to think of others before ourselves.  I wonder what it would be like if every time we dished up a spoonful of food we thought of ways to serve others.  Would it change our way of looking at food?  Would it change our way of looking at eating?  Today, I am going to think of how I can serve others, “humbly in love” each time I dish up a spoonful of food.  I loved yesterday’s verse, using our freedom to open the door to God.  Today we can leave that door open and open another door to serving others which in turn gives them access to the power of God.  Imagine a clear pathway for those we are serving to God because You and I chose to simply open the door to God and then open the door to them.  Oh, what a beautiful picture.  How much more beautiful than simply sitting down at a meal and indulging our flesh.  Today, we are going to concentrate on serving others rather than ourselves and giving them access to the power of God in the process.

Prayer:  My soul is just singing inside with this beautiful imagery.  Your word is full of such gorgeous ways of looking at this limited earth.  I’ve never thought about my actions as opening the path of Your power to others.  Give me the strength to change my tendency to “indulge the flesh” to one of serving others in humbly in love.  I have often found when I stay busy, I eat less.  This verse is further proof that there is a reason.  If I am serving others, I do not think of myself as much.  Today, open my eyes to others and their needs.   Make me humble.  I have found when I am humble, I automatically think of others more than I do myself.  Allow me to keep the door open to You while I open a second door to those in need.  Then allow me to duck so that they can feel Your power, Your presence through both open doors.  Take this action and convert it to an automatic change in my need to indulge my body with food.  Today, Lord we are going to serve others together.  Let’s go.