Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today let’s consider the fact that we’re gifted to serve.

Today’s scripture, 1 Peter 4:10 (NLT) says…
[10] God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

Consider…
Today’s scripture may be familiar to many of us, but have we read the surrounding scriptures?

1 Peter 4:8-9 (NLT) says…
[8] Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. [9] Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.

And 1 Peter 4:11 (NLT) says…
[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.

Both passages highlight God’s expectation for us to help others.

God’s expectation for us to help others wasn’t only communicated by the Apostle Peter, who watched Jesus help others regularly. It’s possible that Peter remembered Jesus saying in John 13:34-35 (NLT)…
[34] So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. [35] Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

Jesus’ words and today’s scripture convey a love extension expectation. Notice Jesus said we’re to love as we’ve been loved by Him. And today’s scripture says we’re to use the gifts God has given us to serve others. These connected expectations tell me that God wants us to live a life filled with…
Jesus first
Others next
You last

The Holy Spirit reminded me 1 John 4:19 (NLT) that…
[19] We love each other because he loved us first.

Now I hear some of my theologian friends challenging my interpretation of the two preceding scriptures. My friends would say that Jesus was telling believers to love fellow believers. While they’re not wrong, I still see God’s expressed love expectation as more expansive and comprehensive. Nevertheless, I can’t argue with their interpretation. However, I can direct them to Jesus’ words in Luke 6:35-36 (NLT)…
[35] “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. [36] You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

God expects us to be like Himself and extend love to others like He has to us.

1 John 3:16-18 (NLT) emphasizes…
[16] We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. [17] If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? [18] Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.

Again we see that Jesus expects us to be like Him. So let’s get Jesus’ thoughts on serving. In Mark 10:45 (NLT) Jesus shared…
[45] For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

This tells me that God expects to give everything we have, including our lives, to serve others. Understanding this gives additional insight to Romans 12:1 (NLT), which exhorts…
[1] And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

Note the Apostle Paul exhorts us to be living and set apart sacrifices to God. The Holy Spirit repeated Jesus’ words, thus time from Matthew 20:28 (NLT), to give proper context to being a living sacrifice for God. The verses says…
[28] For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

It’s from Jesus’ selfless lens that we’re expected to see that God has given us gifts, talents and skills to serve others. As a matter of fact the Apostle Paul wrote Philippians 2:4-8 (NLT), which emphasizes God’s selfless serving expectation. Scripture says…
[4] Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. [5] You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. [6] Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. [7] Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, [8] he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Whatever God has given you, give it to others. And however God has gifted you, be His gift to others.

Jesus served us by being our ransom for the kidnappers of sin and death. And although we’re not asked to die for the sins of others (Only Jesus could), we are told to give ourselves for their benefit.

The Apostle Paul describes what I mean in 1 Corinthians 9:20-23 (NLT) where he wrote…
[20] When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. [21] When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. [22] When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. [23] I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.

The Holy Spirit just showed me that while we can’t save others, we can serve them in such a way that encourages them to want to be saved.

So today as you thank God for saving and gifting you, remember that He sees your true appreciation by how you serve others for Him.

Today’s Song is…
Serve Like Jesus

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)