Lent Day 13

In Ecclesiastes, Solomon repeatedly encourages us to enjoy the lives that God has given us. We are free to enjoy all that God has given us in life without guilt. But Paul warns us to do so in righteousness. He warns us not to let our freedom give an opportunity to sensual desires: gluttony, greed, pride, and all other vices. Rather, when we temper our passions, we are free to serve one another. As Bob Dylan famously sang, “It may be the Devil, or it may be the Lord, but you're gonna have to serve somebody.” You can selfishly serve your passions, lusts, and desires, or you can serve one another in love.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, let us be those who out of love for others, temper our fleshly desires. Let us not serve the passions of the flesh that enslaves us. But cause us to live in freedom, not leting our freedom be an excuse for immorality, but free to serve one another in love. Amen.