Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. (NIV)

Often, it’s easy to feel like the choices we make don’t have that much of an impact on those around us. Compared to the big world, our actions can feel pretty small, but God made each of us with a unique purpose and plan that points us to encourage others and glorify him by using the skills and gifts he has provided us. God sent his only Son to die on the cross for YOU, so that you could have eternal life with him. God CHOSE you. He made you in his image and desires to have a deep relationship with you, one that you can honor by remembering the significance of his sacrifice and giving back to him.  

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The book of 1 Peter expands on glorifying God through hardships and standing firm in your suffering. This chapter focuses on reminding us that our sufferings can be opportunities to glorify God, just like Jesus did. He gave up everything for you, and he suffered for you so that you could have an everlasting life with him. By serving others as he did, we spread the good news and the impact of his grace and goodness toward his people. He gave up everything for us, so why would we not do whatever we could to repay that sacrifice?

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Spiritual gifts are special abilities or talents given to believers by the Holy Spirit to serve the Kingdom of God and honor the body of Christ. As stewards of God’s grace, it's our job to discover the spiritual gifts God has given us and exercise them to fulfill his purposes. In this way, we honor Jesus’ sacrifice and serve others.  

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It’s important to remember that God has given us free will. We are the ones who get to decide whether or not we use what he has blessed us with to glorify him. However, when you choose not to dive deeper into serving and using your abilities for the purpose of building God’s Kingdom, you won’t be able to live in the full blessing that he intended for you, which can affect your spiritual journey and relationships with others. Not using your gifts doesn’t mean you’re not saved; it's more about living out your faith in a way that honors God and blesses others.

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Using your gifts to glorify God is a fundamental aspect of living out your faith. A key characteristic of spiritual gifts is that they have the power to bring both you and others closer to God. When you use your gifts, you’re creating opportunities for meaningful connections and service that can deepen your relationship with Christ and draw others to him. If you can feel or see this impact of your gifts, it's a sign that you’re using them the way God intended. When you witness the effects of your service, it's a testament to the fact that God is working through you.

Take a moment to reflect on your spiritual journey. Are you using your spiritual gifts faithfully as stewards of God’s grace? Consider the following questions:

• What spiritual talents or abilities has the Holy Spirit given you to serve God’s Kingdom and honor the body of Christ?

• Are you actively using these gifts to serve your community and bring others closer to God?

• Think about a time you used your spiritual gift and saw the impact it had on others. How did it make you feel? How did it bring you and others closer to God?

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If you’re struggling to identify your spiritual gifts, ask God to reveal them to you and guide you in serving his Kingdom with the things he’s blessed you with. He will reveal how you can bring people closer to him and share his grace with those around you. Ask him in prayer, “What needs are in my community or church that I could meet? Who can I serve or bless with the talents and abilities you have given me?”

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Remember, just like a muscle that atrophies from disuse, your spiritual gifts can become less effective if not exercised. But with practice and dedication, you can grow in your ability to honor and serve God.

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As you use your spiritual gifts to serve others, remember that you are not just serving people – you are serving God. You are stewards of his beautiful grace, and your service is a reflection of his love and glory.  

God, we want more of you. You live in us through the Spirit, and we want to share that with the world so that they may know of your goodness. Guide us through our day-to-day interactions and reveal to us how we can use our gifts to bless others and bring glory to your name. Our every blessing comes from you, Lord, so help us to honor you by building your Kingdom using whatever we have, because it is all yours. Everything here is temporary, so use us to glorify you in ways that will last forever. Amen.