No. 243 - Stewards of God's Grace

The Service of God’s Servants

No. 243 - Stewards of God's Grace

1 Peter 4:10

"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."

Starting Prayer

Dear Lord, grant me understanding as I reflect on serving others through the gifts you've given. Help me to be a good steward of your grace. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Background

In 1 Peter 4, Peter encourages believers to live for God's will, even amidst suffering and persecution. He emphasizes the importance of using the gifts received from God to serve one another. The selected verse underscores the idea of stewardship, reminding believers that their abilities and resources are given by God for the benefit of others. By serving others with the gifts they have received, believers demonstrate faithful stewardship of God's grace.

Be Encouraged

Imagine a community where everyone recognizes and utilizes their unique gifts to serve others. Each person contributes to the well-being of the community, fostering love, unity, and growth. As followers of Christ and members of His body - the church, we are called to be good stewards of God's grace by actively serving one another. Whether it's through acts of kindness, using our talents for the church, or sharing the gospel, every act of service is an expression of God's grace working through us.

Consider the example of a teacher who uses their gift of teaching to mentor and guide students, not only academically but also spiritually. Through their dedication and care, they impact the lives of those they teach, reflecting God's grace and love. Similarly, when we use our gifts to serve others, we become channels of God's grace, spreading His love and compassion to those around us.

Additional Verses

- Romans 12:6-8: "Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness."

- Ephesians 4:11-12: "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ."

Invitation

The first and most important step to take in order to accept the call to stewardship is to obey the gospel. You obey the gospel through faith (Hebrews 11:6), repentance from sin (Acts 2:38; 17:30-31), and baptism for the forgiveness of all past sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). Let us use our gifts and abilities to serve one another, demonstrating God's grace in action. Join us in worship and service at a local church of Christ, where you can grow in your understanding of God's grace and serve alongside fellow believers.

Concluding Prayer

Thank you, Lord, for the gifts and grace you have bestowed upon me. Help me to be a faithful steward of these gifts, using them to serve others and bring glory to your name. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

May the Lord bless your day.

Theodore J. Quist

Evangelist

Church of Christ

Abokobi - Accra

Ghana

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