Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale Daily DevotionalSample

12-Service with a Smile Yesterday we saw that we're going to serve somebody no matter what. We're either going to serve our own sinful nature, or we're going to serve the Lord. Now, as we continue down the Romans road, we come to chapter seven, where Paul gives greater definition to what our service to God should look like. He tells us that we ought to serve according to the new life that God's Spirit has birthed within us, and not according to the old rules and regulations of the letter of the Law. Understand there's a huge difference between the two. One has the "get to" heart, while the other one has the "have to" heart. Here's a way of illustrating what this difference looks like in real life. Let's say you're a parent and you need your child to take out the trash. There's two ways to get them to do it. You can make things really heavy by saying, "Listen, I want you to get up and take the trash out to the curb. No arguing or excuses. This is something you have to do!" Granted, that's one way to get the job done. Here's a better way: "Hey, Billy, I could really use your help with something right now. You'd really be making a big difference if I knew I could count on you for this. Are you game?" Chances are they will be, because it's a completely different vibe, it's a spirit of value, cooperation, and teamwork. That's the same spirit the Holy Spirit imparts to us as we seek to serve God. It's not a heavy-handed "You must do this!" It's a gentle "I'd love to use you according to My power and grace!" We can either serve God with a scowl...or with a smile. Which will you choose? Think about it... What does this passage reveal to me about God? What does this passage reveal to me about myself? Based on this, what changes do I need to make? What is my prayer for today? Yesterday we saw that we're going to serve somebody no matter what. Think about it... What does this passage reveal to me about God? What does this passage reveal to me about myself? Based on this, what changes do I need to make? What is my prayer for today?