Use and Serve

Series: Receive a Gift

1 Peter 4:10 ESV

The relationship with early believers and the Apostles can best be understood by remembering the Apostles actually knew Jesus. They traveled with Jesus. They heard all of His teachings. They were when he was arrested and crucified. They witnessed Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.

It’s interesting that Peter’s instructions to the new church of Jesus reminded the early believers of several key elements that Jesus taught them.

First, they reminded the early believers they were all given specific Spiritual Gifts.

In 1 Peter 4:10 he wrote, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.”

One of the marvelous elements of the early church and the Apostles remains to be the importance of equipping the new believers (and us) with ‘tools’ so they can serve others.

While we know through the centuries much has been written about how to grow in the faith, one element that pops up again and again in the letters the early Apostles wrote to the new believers is how to serve others. That included using your gifts to serve.

My Mother and I are perfect examples.

My Mother was raised in church and they always went to church. Her Mother was the church pianist.

My Mother is an extreme extrovert and she is super social. She loved gym class in school and didn’t like reading or studying. She loved to cook and bake cakes and pies and she made Sunday dinner for whoever wanted to come for years while I was in the home.

Serving others and making sure they have what they need is her best gift.

I was raised in church as well.

While I know how to cook, I’d much rather be reading and studying. Growing up I loved talking with my dad about scripture. It’s no surprise to anyone that I graduated from college and seminary and years later I write daily about Jesus God.

My dad did a lot of sketching and we used to draw silly pictures. Today I still love drawing silly cartoons.

Organically we used to draw the gifts we were given to serve God.

For my Mother cooking was natural and she loved it.

I can do it but I don’t love it.

I do love studying, reading, and sketching silly pictures.

God gave us those gifts.

God did not give us those gifts just for fun (although it is fun).

God gave us those gifts so we can serve others in some way. That is exactly what God wants us to do. God wants us to organically use the gifts we were given.

If God gave you the gift of leadership, lead.

If God gave you the skills to write, write.

If God gave you the gift of loving and caring for others, use those gifts.

If God gifted you with administration and organization, do it well.

I have several children and I can see specific gifts God gave them and I see how they utilize their gifts. Sometimes their gifts are used at work and sometimes they are used at home.

With extreme grace God gave us all different gifts to be used with extreme grace.

Today be blessed by your gift!

Deborah

acrazyjourney.com