Use Those Gifts (1 Peter 4:10-11)

Today’s scripture: 1 Peter 4:10-11

God is so good. He is loving and gracious and merciful. He provides and protects. He blesses us so far beyond our expectations.

And He invites us to work with Him to fulfill His plans. That just blows my mind.

The Sovereign Creator, the all-knowing, all-powerful, all-loving God of the universe invites us—you and me—to help fulfill His plans. I often say He could certainly do it better without me, but He chooses to bless me by allowing me to participate.

He’s given His children gifts to use to serve Him and others. And everything we do with those gifts must be done for His glory, and His glory alone. God has given me the gift of encouragement, and He uses that gift as I speak, write, sing, act or provide a shoulder to a hurting friend. And I pray every time I’m blessed to use my God-given gift that I do give glory to Him. I remind myself regularly that anything I’m able to do—everything I’m able to do—is only because of God’s amazing love and grace for me.

You’re gifted as well. Do you know how God has gifted you? If you don’t, find out. And then joyfully use your gift to serve others and glorify God.

Don't Neglect the Gift (1 Timothy 4:13-16)

Today’s scripture: 1 Timothy 4:13-16

When we accept the gift of salvation and surrender our lives to Jesus Christ, God bestows spiritual gifts upon us. Some of us are gifted preachers or teachers. Others have the gift of hospitality or administration. Still others are encouragers or are merciful.

And each gift is critical to complete the body of Christ. In God’s economy, the volunteer who faithfully folds the bulletin each week is as important as the most renowned preacher. Therefore, we cannot “neglect the spiritual gift” God has given. Each of us is just important to God as our fellow brothers and sisters.

If you’ve been given the gift of hospitality, open your home for a neighborhood Bible study. If you’re an encourager, write notes of affirmation to your child’s teacher or to your pastor. If you teach, be certain you diligently study God’s word so you speak only words of truth.

You can be certain of this: God will use you and your spiritual gift. But you need to be prepared to do as He asks. You need to be willing to use your gift to glorify God, not yourself.

Don’t “neglect” your spiritual gift. Instead, joyfully use it to serve God and others, knowing He will, one day, say, “Well done, my faithful servant.”

Whom Are You Pleasing? (1 Thessalonians 2:3-6)

Today’s scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:3-6

God has called each of us to serve Him. We’ve all been given spiritual gifts, and the number one purpose of our using those gifts is to glorify Him. You may have been called to teach or preach (see Ephesians 4:11). Or you may be a generous giver or have a heart to show mercy (see Romans 12:8). You might love to help others or perhaps you’re a gifted administrator (see 1 Corinthians 12:28).

No matter our gifts, using them should never shine the light on us. None of us should “think of himself more highly than he ought …” (Romans 12:3). We should never “seek glory from men”; rather, everything we do should be “pleasing … God who examines our hearts.”

When you use a gift the Lord has given you, are you so focused on pleasing God that it doesn’t matter what others might say? Would you preach or teach even if no one ever told you that your words had encouraged or convicted them? Would you give generously to your church if that giving was never acknowledged—even by the IRS? Would you be merciful to those less fortunate, never hearing a “thank you”?

If you can say, “Yes, I’d serve anyway even if I never, ever received any human kudos,” then you’re serving for the right reasons. You’re using your gifts as God intended. But if you sense that sometimes you seek a bit of glory for yourself, then ask God to help you examine your motives.

And serve “not as pleasing man, but [as pleasing] God …”

Your Wonderful Gift (Ephesians 4:11-13)

Today's scripture: Ephesians 4:11-13

Each of us is gifted by God to serve Him in a way only we can. And when you stop to think about it, God’s gifts in us are gifts to us.

God doesn’t need us to do His work. He is more than able to reach people and care for them without us. In fact, I’m sure there are times when we hamper His work.

Yet He loves us so much, He allows us to join Him in His kingdom work. He uses us to serve others, and He gives us the privilege of seeing how that service impacts them.

What an amazingly wonderful gift!

So some of us evangelize. Some of us preach. Some of us teach. And all of us equip the saints and build the body of Christ. And though there may be thousands of preachers, God uses each uniquely. And though there may be thousands of teachers, God speaks through each differently.

I regularly speak to women’s groups, and I’m far from the best speaker around … yet, when I speak, God uses me in a way He doesn’t use anyone else. He gives me a unique style, unique ways of using words. And He touches lives in a unique way—through me.

How has God gifted you? Do you know? If you don’t, talk to someone you trust, who knows you well, and ask them what they think. Find a gift assessment tool. And when you find out how God has uniquely gifted you, join Him in His kingdom-building plan.

And thank Him for allowing you to be a part of that plan.

Pray for Those Who Serve (2 Corinthians 8:16-24)

Today’s scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:16-24

Few of us are called to leave our homes and venture out to spread the gospel. In fact, it’s often joked about when we talk about areas of giftedness: “I’ll do anything for You, Lord, but don’t send me to the mission field.”

Full-time missionary workers often give up everything they hold near and dear. They leave their homes, their families, their friends. They go to foreign, often hostile, lands. They’re faced with strange customs, traditions, and foods. They usually don’t make much money and, in fact, are dependent upon others to provide their support.

And they do it earnestly, readily, and diligently. They do “what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of man.”

I have several friends who have listened to God’s voice and His call to full-time missions work. In fact, my middle-born nephew and his wife and infant son will soon be leaving to work full-time in Latvia. They’d be the first to tell you it can be tough. Some are in countries that are so anti-Christ, they can’t openly share God’s word. Some live in harsh climates. Others work in “regular” jobs as well as perform their missionary duties.

They do this while we sit in comfort in our familiar homes with our familiar things and our familiar friends. So what can we do to help? More than anything, we need to pray for them diligently—much more diligently than we probably do. We need to lift them up daily to God’s throne, praying for protection, strength, and provision. And if possible, we need to support them financially.

Because while not all of us are called to the mission field, all of us are called to pray for our brothers and sisters, including those who serve—both here and abroad. 

Supply What Is Lacking (1 Corinthians 16:14-18)

Today's scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:14-18

It bears repeating: We Christians are all part of one Body, and we’ve been created to serve our God in whatever capacity He’s designed. We all have gifts that “supply what is lacking” in others.

I cannot do what you can do in the exact way you do it. You cannot do what I can do in the exact way I do it. Together, however, we all do exactly what God calls us to do.

That’s one of the greatest things about being a child of God: We’re not on this journey alone. Not only do we have our never-leaving, never-forsaking God (Hebrews 13:5), not only does He love us everlastingly (Jeremiah 31:3), but we also have our brothers and sisters to walk alongside us. Paul certainly did.

So we need to support one another. Acknowledge each other.

Celebrate each other.

Show gratitude to each other. Submit to each other.

Love each other.

A More Excellent Way (1 Corinthians 12:31b-13:3)

Today's scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:31b-13:3

We’ve been talking a lot about spiritual giftedness over the last several days. How we should use our gifts. How we’re all a part of the body of Christ’s. How each of us should work together in order to serve God. How we are to reach others with the gospel.

But our gifts aren’t worth anything if they’re not founded on love. God is love, and everything He does is founded on His great love for us. We, in turn, should use the gifts with which He’s blessed us to serve Him and others in love.

The apostle John, the one whom Christ loved, writes, “My dear friends, we must love each other. Love comes from God, and when we love each other, it shows that we have been given new life. We are now God's children, and we know him” (CEV, 1 John 4:7).

Serving God and using His gifts is a “more excellent way.” And it’s really a matter of heart and motivation. We can preach with fervency, teach with great knowledge, open our homes for fellowship, or offer mercy to the “least of these.” However, if we don’t do these with love—genuine love—for God and others, all we do “profits [us] nothing.”

In other words, it won’t bring kingdom-building results.

We must, as Jesus said, “… ‘LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (NASB, Mark 12:30-31).

The Importance of ALL Gifts (1 Corinthians 12:27-31a)

Today's scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:27-31a

Paul writes extensively about giftedness in this chapter, and today’s verses sum up his argument:

Each is a member of the body, not the whole body; each stands related to the body as a part of it, and all have a common relation to one another, dependence upon one another, and should have a mutual care and concern … This were to make the church a monster: all one as if the body were all ear or all eye. Some are fit for one office and employment, and some for another; and the Spirit distributes to everyone as he will. We must be content with our own rank and share, if they be lower and less than those of others. We must not be conceited of ourselves, and despise others, if we are in the higher rank and have greater gifts. Every member of the body is to preserve its own rank, and do its own office; and all are to minister to one another, and promote the good of the body in general, without envying, or despising, or neglecting, or ill-using, any one particular member. How blessed a constitution were the Christian church, if all the members did their duty! (Matthew Henry Complete Commentary of the Whole Body)

Even though all gifts are important, and we shouldn’t look down on “lesser gifts” (see yesterday’s devotional), Paul

closes this chapter with an advice (as the generality read it) and a hint: An advice to covet the best gifts, charismata ta kreittona--dona potiora, præstantiora, either the most valuable in themselves or the most serviceable to others; and these are, in truth, most valuable in themselves, though men may be apt to esteem those most that will raise their fame and esteem highest. Those are truly best by which God will be most honoured and his church edified. Such gifts should be most earnestly coveted. (Matthew Henry)

Spiritual Gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4-11)

Today's scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

If you believe in the God of the Bible, have accepted salvation through the sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and have committed your life to God—Father, Son, and Spirit—you are part of the body of Christ.

God has gifted you uniquely to serve Him and His people in a way no one else can. In several places in the New Testament, spiritual gifts are mentioned, both implicitly and explicitly. Today’s verses list several gifts, including wisdom, knowledge, faith, and healing.

Yes, knowing the different kinds of gifts God gives is very important. Even more importantly, we need to know what gifts God has given each of us—and use them.

Most important of all, thought, we need to remember that, as many gifts as there are, there is one Spirit, one God who gives these gifts. And “one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.”

If you don’t know how you’ve been uniquely gifted, ask the Spirit to reveal your gift to you. Seek counsel from godly men or women. Find a program that will help to assess your strengths.

Once you’ve determined your gift, use it to glorify God and serve His people.

Sowing Seeds (1 Corinthians 3:4-9)

Today's scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:4-9

I consider myself a seed planter. I speak quite often, and every time I speak, I talk about the good news of salvation through belief in and acceptance of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. I talk about living to serve God and grow in faith. And I usually give those attending the opportunity to accept Christ.

However, I don’t always see the results. In other words, I don’t always see someone come to faith every time I speak. When I first started my ministry, I have to admit, I felt like I was doing something wrong. Was I not eloquent enough? Did I share the gospel clearly? Was my own faith lacking?

I’d go to other events, and when the speaker gave the “altar call,” there always seemed to be someone—or many someones—who accepted Christ.

Then I found these verses. Some people plan the seeds, and some water. Some even get a chance to “reap.” But no matter what, God is the one who provides salvation. He is the One who offers grace and mercy.

I am merely a “fellow worker” with others, and I must do my part.

Occasionally, someone comes to faith the very first time they hear the gospel message. Often though, it takes hearing the truth repeated times. So who’s to say that someone who makes a decision to follow Christ didn’t hear God’s words through me first, and that’s the seed that grew so one of my “fellow workers” could reap.

We’re all in this together, and God uses each of us as He sees fit.

And again, the only thing I must do is do what He’s called me to do. And you must do the same.

You Are Amazing! (Psalm 71:4-6)

Today's scripture: Psalm 71:4-6

You have a purpose. No, really. You do.

God created you to be the unique, amazing person you are. He has "upheld [you] from birth."

Because you can be confident of this, you can have hope that He has a plan for you (Jeremiah 29:11). He has something in store for you that is just as unique and amazing as you are.

I don't feel amazing or unique, you say. I'm just an ordinary person.

Perhaps you are "ordinary" as the world defines it. Perhaps you haven't sung on a Broadway stage or climbed Mount Everest. You haven't developed a cure for cancer or spoken at the U.N. Your name is not known throughout the world.

You feel ordinary.

Guess what? God often does extraordinary things through so-called ordinary people.

Abraham. Moses. Joseph. Joshua. Esther. Ruth. Deborah.

Peter. John. James

Do any of these names sound familiar? Ordinary people. Yet, God created them to be unique, amazing people who did extraordinary things.

God may well use you on a world-wide stage of some sort. More likely, He's going to use you in your own little circle of influence. He's going to use you to encourage a hurting friend. He'll comfort someone because of your words. He'll save a life through your testimony.

You are unique. You are amazing.

You have a purpose. Ask God today, "What is my purpose for just this day? Please use me to glorify Yourself and touch a life. Just for this day."