https://odb.org/MY/2023/06/21/step-by-step
In 1 Peter 4:7-11, Peter talks about using our God-given talents and gifts to serve others as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. Our talents and gifts are the expression of God’s grace in the sense that when we use them to serve God, we are expressing God to others. God is seen and experienced through us. Thus, if we speak (preach or share), we do so as though we are speaking God’s words, and if we serve, we serve in God’s strength so that in all things, Christ may be glorified.
In the context of the unity of the body, if everyone uses their gifts and talents to speak or serve God, then there will be unity and harmony as serving God will be serving the body, which is one another. If we are focused on serving one another, we will have less time and attention to pick on one another’s weaknesses or bicker and quarrel over small things. The big picture is always God’s will and His plans and purposes. Our service is an expression of God’s grace. So how can we not serve and exercise grace and excuse the idiosyncrasies and weaknesses of others? In the body of Christ, we see believers in their various stages of transformation and maturity. Note that our biological age or tenure as a believer does not determine our spiritual maturity. We could have been a Christian for umpteen years and still a baby in Christ because we could have resisted change and stayed at our stubborn ways all these years. We could have refused to yield to the Spirit all this while and thus have allowed our flesh, our old self, to reign supreme. We could even be an old man and have been in the family of God for many years and yet still might not have seriously studied the Word or might not have exercised our faith before and thus have not seen the power of God manisfested before our very eyes.
The message today, I believe, is to begin to serve God. As we serve Him, we manifest His grace in its various forms. God will use us and our God-given talents and gifts to bless others. It could be a helping hand to move house or a love gift for someone to make ends meet. It could be praying for someone’s healing or a direct involvement in ministry. The point is we need to serve God and thus one another in the body, and in the process, God’s grace will be manifested through us, and we will be transformed and blessed when others are blessed in parallel. Every time we bless and help others, we ourselves will be blessed and transformed by God and will mature in our faith. As we serve God and bless others, we will be made more perfect and complete to face the end of time.
Ronnie's Thoughts 