Devotion
Use Your Freedom To Love
Chipo Biti
As children of God, we have been freed from the power of sin and all strongholds of the enemy. In Christ, we live a life of freedom - free from all forms of bondage. We are no longer slaves to guilt and shame. We are free to live lives filled with joy in Christ. But Paul admonished the Galatians - and us as well - not to use our liberty to fulfill the desires of our flesh. These desires are anything that are contrary to God and what He stands for. The last thing we should want is to use our freedom to indulge in things that are against God, our Father.
Instead, we are to focus on serving one another in love. Love is the main thing that should be at the center of every gathering of believers. Love reflects the nature of God. As we love one another, in Christ, we are showing the world evidence of God's existence. Love is a rare thing in this world because of the evil that abounds in those who are under the devil's influence. When we live our love out loud, in our actions and our words, we are calling the world to attention. We are making them aware of a better life to live - a life in Christ.
All of the law that was written in the Old Testament is fulfilled in "Love your neighbor as you love yourself". The same things that you desire for yourself should be the things that you desire for other people. The love and care that you give yourself should be the love you give to others and more. When you love your neighbor you do not desire to inflict any harm on them. To do so would be to cause a great travesty.
If we treat each other maliciously, like the devil would want us to, we will end up destroying each other and the report of God. We cannot preach of God and His love if we are constantly at one another's throats. That is not the way we are supposed to live.
Prayer
We are meant to look out for one another, encourage one another, and support one another in all times and seasons. That is the love God desires us to give to one another.
Night Prayer
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Inspiration
We despise the thought of a pile of dirty dishes in the sink. The outside is easy to clean; it's the caked-up residue on the inside that's so difficult to remove. Jesus compares the scribes and Pharisees with dishes that have been wiped clean on the outside while dirty inside. The Pharisees took exceptional care of their outward appearance and neglected their inward spirits. We are guilty of allowing our hearts to be left filthy as well. We look and act as we should while our souls are full of darkness. We must continue to converse with the Holy Spirit daily and trust His guidance to cleanse our sinful nature.
Prayer
Dear God, Please forgive our sinful nature. We yearn for cleansing from within, so we are genuine witnesses to Your name. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
