A Daily Devotional with Pastor Doug Crouse May 1, 2018 Free to Serve Scripture Reading – Galatians 5:13b - 14 (NLT)"But don't use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself." 

Where can the human heart find the ultimate satisfaction? We know from that song that sings about finding no satisfaction, even though one may: 'try, and try, and try and try - hey - hey - hey', many areas’ - that it is not truly found in the things of this world - no matter how many one may have or strive to possess. Of course that ultimate and eternal satisfaction is found in a living and loving relationship with Christ Jesus the Lord. This is where freedom is found. And once found then we are, 'Free to Serve'. For the church of the living Christ is not about, 'serve us', but rather is about 'service'.

The manner in which we are called to serve is not found within ourselves, or our old selfish and self-serving nature, but rather in that new nature which Christ has placed in us by the Person, presence and power of the Holy Spirit. This debt of service that we owe to God and to others is that of unconditional love.

Love expressed like this in the church, the body of Christ will result in people coming to know and experience the Lord Jesus. And when we choose to express his love in tangible ways to our neighbor, then the Holy Spirit can confront them as well with the claims of Christ Jesus.So let us strive to live in love before both God and man. In the church, the body of Christ, and in the world. By the power and enabling Person of the Holy Spirit Who resides within each one of us. We will be living and loving according to the law of Christ Jesus our Lord, who loves us and gave Himself for all of this! 

Prayer Father today I rejoice in the freedom that Jesus Christ has given me. Spirit of the living God fill me so I may walk daily bearing much fruit. I know the best way for this is for the love of Christ to flow through me. I give myself to this through Christ Jesus my Lord. 

Memory Verse: Acts 1:8 NLT “But you will receive _______ when the Holy _______ comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere…”