Use your freedom to serve one another in love, (Galatians 5:13). Those words of the apostle Paul were directed to the church, but they apply just as easily to marriage - as does his warning two verses later: "But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another."

We all have the freedom to treat others, including our loved ones, as we wish. Unfortunately, we sometimes abuse that freedom. The image of two people verbally "biting and devouring one another" is all too familiar to spouses who have engaged by harsh and condemning words? When we put each other down, we are cooperating with Satan in destroying our marriages. Nothing pleases him more.

Instead of trying to destroy each other, we need to explore the biblical strategy of serving each other in love. Serving your loved one, actively anticipating and meeting his other needs, creates a positive emotional climate where the two of you can talk freely about your struggles and find answers to your problems. Serve your loved ones today, and watch the climate of your relationship change.

Take time to pray and talk to God...

Thank Him for your loved one.

Ask Him to help you maintain a humble spirit in your interaction with your loved one.

Ask Him to give you a servant's heart toward your loved one.

Discuss...

How does pride get in the way of serving?

How difficult is it to control your tongue when you are in conflict with someone?

What keeps you from being able to talk freely with your loved one?

Consider these passages for further study on Serving Others:

Mark 10:44-45 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Acts 20:35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

1 Peter 4:10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

Serving others should be a priority in your life in how you advance your relationship with others. This helps keep the focus in the right direction with your loved one and the Lord. Devotional thoughts of Gary Chapman.