1 Peter 4:10, 11 - Gifts with Grace to the Glory of God.
1 Peter 4:10, 11 (NLT) God has given each of
you a gift from his great variety of spiritual
gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 11 Do
you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as
though God himself were speaking through you. Do
you have the gift of helping others? Do it with
all the strength and energy that God supplies.
Then everything you do will bring glory to God
through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him
forever and ever! Amen.
INTRODUCTION
Our abilities should be faithfully used in
serving others; none are for our own exclusive
enjoyment. Some people, well aware of their abilities,
believe that they have the right to use their
abilities as they please. Others feel that they have
no special talents at all. Peter addresses both
groups in these verses. Everyone has some gifts;
find yours and use them. Peter mentions speaking
and serving. Paul lists these and other
abilities in Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:8-11, and
Ephesians 4:11. Even as you seek to discover your
gifts, if you see a need in the church, seek to
meet it. You may find gifts in areas you might
not have guessed! [Life Application SB]
COMMENTARY PEARL
The Gift of Service
Just as our bodies need exercise to be
strong physically, our faith needs exercise if we
are to be strong spiritually.
It has often been noted that several
rivers flow into the Dead Sea, but no river flows
from it. That's why its water has become so
saturated with minerals over the centuries that
nothing is able to live in it. Without any outlet it
indeed has become a "dead" sea. The same is true
with us. If we keep faith to ourselves, if we
never allow it to flow through us to enrich
others, and if it has no outlet, then we will find
ourselves like the Dead Sea - life-less and
spiritually dead.
God wants to use you right where you are.
Every day you probably come into contact with
people who will never enter a church or talk with a
pastor or open a Bible. You may be the bridge God
uses to bring them to His Son, the Lord Jesus
Christ. Anyone can be a servant, no matter how
inadequate he or she may feel.
How can God's love flow through you in
someone's life? [Peace for Each Day by Billy Graham]
COMMENTARY
When we accepted Christ as our Redeemer,
we accepted the condition of becoming laborers
together with God. We made a covenant with Him to be
wholly for the Lord; as faithful stewards of the
grace of Christ, to labor for the upbuilding of
His kingdom in the world. Every follower of
Christ stands pledged to dedicate all his powers of
mind and soul and body to Him who has paid the
ransom money for our souls. We engaged to be
soldiers, to enter into active service, to endure
trials, shame, reproach, to fight the fight of
faith, following the Captain of our salvation.
In your connection with worldly societies
are you keeping your covenant with God? Do these
associations tend to direct your own mind or that of
others to God, or are they diverting the interest
and attention from Him? Do they strengthen your
connection with the divine agencies, or turn your mind
to the human in place of the divine? 2SM124
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY
1 Peter 4:10, 11: Gifts with Grace to the
Glory of God.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210601-1029.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20190901-1117.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
https://abible.com/links/