1 Peter 4:10-11 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Once again the whole passage is really loaded with important truth, leaving me to pray that each person who uses this Scripture list would read with an open heart, allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to them what they need to hear. I have preached on these two verses several times, I’m sure, but they still speak to me afresh. The thing is, our context is constantly changing as we experience more of life, so in that sense the Bible is always new. Even a verse we have memorized can speak something new to us, as our eyes are opened to see more of the truth that is in it. There are several points in these two verses, the first being that each person is gifted. We speak of a gifted musician, or mathematician, or what have you, often not realizing that we ourselves are also gifted. Perhaps the simplest way to recognize your own gifting is to think about what seems easy or simple to you, but other people struggle with. Any time that is true, it indicates a way in which you are gifted. The problem is, we tend to exercise our gifts to satisfy ourselves, when as Peter says here, they are to be used to serve one another. Selfishness, being self-centered, is never the way to happiness and true satisfaction. It is when we use our gifts to bless others that we are fully blessed. That’s called stewardship, because our gifting is entrusted to us by God, and we are accountable to Him for how we use it. It’s also worth noting here that Peter is pointing out that God’s gifts are incredibly varied, essentially beyond counting, and that they are grace, because we didn’t earn them. The next verse goes on to mention the two main categories of gifting: speaking and acting. We don’t care if a carpenter is an eloquent speaker, so long as he can saw, hammer, etc. correctly. Conversely, we don’t care if a school teacher can hit a nail straight, so long as they can speak truth into our children to prepare them for life. Peter points us to the purpose of all of this: that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. That echoes what Paul said: “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:17) With that understanding, we are to use our gifts boldly, speaking God’s truth for what it is, yet with all humility, acting without hesitation, while knowing that it is God who makes it possible. If we will do that, the Body of Christ will be built up and the world will be transformed, as God intends and for His glory.

Just yesterday I was wondering out loud what I was supposed to speak on this Sunday, since the Lord has spoken to me several times over the past three weeks, when I haven’t preached the past two Sundays. I don’t think I have any question now! I have been aware of my own gifting in several areas for most of my life, but I haven’t been very good at encouraging others in their gifting. That’s a real problem for me as a pastor, because Paul says that I am “to equip [God’s] people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” (Ephesians 4:12) I’m not to do it all myself, which has been something of my pattern for most of my life. I’ve allowed others to help me occasionally, but not too often. That has resulted in a very poor level of spiritual growth in this church, and it’s because I haven’t been a good steward of the gifts God has given me. Personal satisfaction isn’t to be my goal! God has had to use advancing age and occasional medical issues to get through to me, and I need to pay attention if I don’t want more medical issues! I have finally allowed a sister in the church to preach, but I need wisdom in what to ask of whom, recognizing their gifts so that they likewise may recognize and grow in them. Above all, I need to remember that I don’t have all the answers, and be humble in asking for advice. God has great plans for us, and I don’t want to be in the way!

Father, thank You for this strong Word. Thank You for the timing, as we prepare for our annual business meeting on the 13^th. I pray that each person would hear what You are saying to them and rejoice to be obedient, even if it pulls them out of their comfort zone, so that all of Your plans for us and for this city and nation may be fulfilled, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!