DEVOTION
THE 1ST LETTER OF PETER
ALL GLORY AND POWER
1 Peter 4:7-11
7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and
self-controlled so that you can pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply,
because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one
another without grumbling. 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received
to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 11
If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If
anyone serves, he should do it 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.
NIV
Still not being sure just exactly what Peter thought how near was the
end of all things and that we have decided we need to be clear minded and
self-controlled so our prays will be effective and that we need to love deeply,
which means not shallow, hollow, superficial love and somehow work out this
being hospitable without grumbling, we now need to explore our gifts and why we
get them. First, we should note that these are the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
There has been the thought that our natural gifts or talents are still from God,
which is we were born with a certain propensity toward learning a certain
skill, trade, or profession and we see people as gifted in that arts, science,
teaching, business or whatever. But these are not the type of gifting which
comes from the Holy Spirit. These gifts are specific in spirit, not in nature.
However, the point is whatever our gift, even if we were to consider those
natural born “gifts”, they are not for our furtherance or betterment in this
world. The only reason we have been gifted is so we use it to serve others, and
in doing so faithfully administering God’s grace, his divine influence on our
heart in its various forms, as to how his influence is reflected in our life as we
serve others with the manifestation of the gift the Spirit is working in and
through us. We have to understand this gift is not ours, we do not own this
gift as we would own a physical gift given to us by a person. These gifts are
the Holy Spirits and he manifests them in and through us whenever they are
needed for the benefit of someone. Peter identifies two specific gifts and
maybe these are the only two he is referring to, although we should apply this
same principle to all the gifts. If any of us utter words, as the Greek word
implies, or speaks, or as it could imply preach, we should do so as an oracle
of God. However, since we all are not called to be preachers, in fact, some of
us are slow in speech, which means we do not think fast on our feet, so to speak,
we still have conversations in our daily lives. Then we would still have to
consider whatever we say in those conversations that we are speaking and so then
we should be speaking the very words of God. Yet, it would seem this does
directly point to those who preach from the pulpit. However, this gift of
serving, or those who serve, and we all should be serving somehow, we obviously
do not serve ourselves, but we serve others. But, again our service is not to
bring attention to us or to be praised or thanked for what we do, but its sole
purpose is to bring glory to God. We also should note that our service is again
not a natural human-based effort, or from our own skillset, or abilities, but
this service is because of the working of God in our lives, it is from his strength,
not ours, least we boast about how much we serve and get any credit for our
service. Everything we do, all that we are, is due to the work of God in our
lives. All praise, power, and glory belong to Him, forever and ever, amen.
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