For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
- Gal 5:13
While some people may hate boats or the ocean, the concept of a cruise is a very popular idea. In a sense, there’s nothing more relaxing than to be on a cruise. There are countless activities, classes, events, parties, etc. The facilities are luxurious, and the food—well, the banquets are amazing.
Cruises hit hard times during the COVID outbreak, but the allure has remained.
Cruises appeal to the deep-seated desire for relaxation—the pull to turn off our minds, serve our bodies, and have no responsibilities whatsoever.
Now - to be clear, cruises are not bad things at all! In fact, times of relaxation are important and can be valuable for our Christians lives.
But the church was never intended to be a cruise ship. We know that because of the countless commands in Scripture about our responsibility to serve one another.
Take, for example, the verse above. Paul tells the Galatian Christians that they were called to freedom through Christ. They could have chosen to use that freedom for themselves as an opportunity to serve their flesh.
But instead, Paul called them to love one another and serve one another. The call to freedom was a call to serve others, rather than to be served by others.
This is the example of Christ Himself (Mark 10:45), but is also the expectation on the church. Love for others drives us to serve them, rather than expect them to serve us!
So - where does love come from? Very simply, love that drives us to serve comes from the love of Christ for us! Jesus empowers true service. (2 Cor 5:14-15)
When our hearts feel cold to the church, we are living like we’re enjoying a cruise. But when we realize that the church is a hospital ship filled with rescued soldiers, our hearts will long to serve others, rather than to be served.
