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Weekly devotional: Free to serve

Aug. 12, 2022

Ka Ipu o Lono shares weekly devotionals to provide spiritual enrichment to members of the Kamehameha Schools ‘ohana. For more inspiration, visit the KS “Our faith” website.

Heluhelu Baibala
E nā hoahānau, ua hea ʻia ʻoukou ma ka luhi ʻole; mai hoʻolilo naʻe ʻoukou i ua luhi ʻole lā i mea no ke kino, akā, ma ke aloha e mālama aku kekahi i kekahi.
- Galatia 5:13

For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh but serve one another through love.
- Galatians 5:13

He manaʻo o ke kahu
The Jews lived under the Law which required the faithful to keep 613 commandments. These commandments were stifling for the people and were often stumbling blocks. By becoming a Christian, the believer was now free from those commandments. But Paul warns the Galatians to use their freedom wisely and not turn to sin. Instead, they need to serve one another through love.

When we have the freedom of choice, our tendency is to do what best meets our needs instead of meeting the needs of others. Recently, I heard the story of a kupuna whose husband had an emergency at home. The medical personnel rushed over to render aid but were unable to save him. When the police arrived to take the report, they saw that the home was in such poor shape, they had no choice but to declare it uninhabitable. The kupuna lost her husband and her home at the same time.

Fortunately, the neighbor from across the street opened her doors to take in the elderly woman, even though there were already eight persons living in cramped conditions. They all contributed to welcome the grieving widow and gave her more than a bed; they gave her a family. They were able to get her through a tough time in her life and gave her hope. Additional help came in the form of a group of volunteers from the military, in which the woman’s husband had served. When the group heard of this woman’s situation, they decided to rebuild her home so it would be safe for her to return to. Now that woman gets to come back to her own home, and she even decided to share it with the family from across the street.

We all have freedom in Christ. This freedom means that we need to live our lives with a focus on others, so we might have an impact on them. This is living as Christ’s disciples, for he always was other focused. So, don’t use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but may you serve others in the bond of love.



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daily devotional,christian values,our faith

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Kaipuolono Article, Regions, Themes, Culture, Community, Hawaii Newsroom, KS Hawaii Home, Kapalama Newsroom, Kapalama Home, Newsroom, Hawaii, Kapalama, Maui, Scripture, Hawaii campus, Kapalama campus, Maui campus

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