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.

TO PONDER

At the risk of repeating myself from every other devotion this week: do you see how often the New Testament tells us that the gifts we receive from God are not for ourselves.

Here again Peter reminds us that the gifts God gives us, gifts like forgiveness, eternal life, spiritual gifts, and of course his enduring and steadfast love, he gives to us so that we can be empowered to serve others and use those gifts to build the Kingdom of God ere on earth, not our own little earthly kingdoms.

This is where an authentic Christian life looks most counter cultural, because our culture encourages us to think of the world as being here to serve us and grant us everything we need or want. We get easily upset when things don't go our way and we become frustrated with others when they do not immediately see things our way or they make themselves barriers to us achieving our goals or getting what we want. We believe that they should be serving us, not the other way around.

The crazy thing is, if even just all of God's people, all the Christians in the world, took seriously this directive to serve others with the gifts God has given us, whether they be physical or spiritual gifts, then statistically speaking with about 1/3 of the world's population identifying as Christian, one in every 3 people would be looking out for you and thinking about how they might serve you with the love of God.

It doesn't feel like that is the reality does it. Before we go getting to critical of others, maybe we need to make sure we are not part of the problem.

PRAYER: Gracious Heavenly Father, I thank you for all the gifts and blessing you have given me and for all the ways you provide for my daily needs. Please help me to remember that you give these gifts, not only for my own benefit, but so I can generously and humbly serve others in your name and for your glory. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.