This morning I am reflecting on some familiar verses from 1 Peter. The translation is a bit different than my normal NIV, so the wording just caught my attention. Here are the verses - 1 Peter 4:7-11 NIrV:
[7] “The end of all things is near. So be watchful and control yourselves. Then you may pray.
[8] Most of all, love one another deeply. Love erases many sins by forgiving them.
[9] Welcome others into your homes without complaining.
[10] God’s gifts of grace come in many forms. Each of you has received a gift in order to serve others. You should use it faithfully.
[11] If anyone speaks, they should do it as one speaking God’s words. If anyone serves, they should do it with the strength God provides. Then in all things God will be praised through Jesus Christ. Glory and power belong to him for ever and ever. Amen.”
The verses I underlined are just worded differently in this version (Readers version) and I like them as there is an external focus on the gifts.
We have received a gift (gifts) in order to serve others.
Our gifts, while given to us, are actually meant to enable us to serve others better.
God’s purpose in giving us His Gifts is for the benefit of each other. As Paul said, “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:7 NIV)
I guess the question is how do I serve others best through the gifts that are present in me?
Or to put it another way, am I using the Gifts that God has given me to serve others at all?
These are such good meditations, for so often I am all focused on myself, on my needs, my wants, my thoughts, my path, my life, and the Lord seems to be asking me to lift my eyes up and look around to see others. The things He is doing in me, the things He has given me are not for me so much as they are to enable me to add to the common good, everyone else and myself included.
It would be like, instead of a birthday party where all the gifts are given to benefit the one whose birthday it is, the gifts that are given are for all the attendees, meant to be enjoyed and experienced by all!
This whole idea flows out of the very nature of God! He has everything, and He wants to share all of that with us! He wants us to experience what He has and He holds nothing back. As Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans 8:32 NIV: “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”
He has given us His best, and now invites us into His nature, by giving us gifts to serve others, to be used for the common good! He wants us to bless others, even as He has blessed us!
Oh, that we would learn to turn our eyes outward, to look around and see the opportunities to serve others, to bless others, to speak words of encouragement, to heal, to bring revelation, to love, to show mercy and grace, to be faithful, to offer hospitality, to pour out that which have been given to the benefit of us all!
No gift is too small to share!
No individual is without gifts to share!
We are all meant to be blessed by the abundance of gifts the Lord has poured forth!
Oh Lord, help us to embrace the opportunity to love and serve others! Help us to give our very best, imitating You who sent us Jesus! Help us to learn how to build each other up, that we all might experience the benefits of the gifts You have given!
Amen and Amen!
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