Verse of the Day 9/2

Verse of the Day 9/2

1 Peter 4:10-11  As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: ¹¹ whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.     English Standard Version (ESV)

For today's verses we'll return to the same passage as yesterday in 1 Peter 4.  Yesterday I quoted from the hymn Channels Only "flowing through us thou canst use us, every day and every hour".  We all should be able to recognize that God has given us, blessed us with physical and spiritual gifts.  The key is, what are we doing with them?  Are we using them?  We may have all of the talent in the world in some area but if we don't use it what good does it do?

One of my favorite pastors and authors from last century was A. W. Tozer.  What he wrote in regards to this fits in well with the hymn from yesterday and what we are considering today.  He writes, "To please God, a person must be just an instrument for God to use. For a few seconds, picture in your mind the variety of wonderful and useful appliances we have in our homes. They have been engineered and built to perform tasks of all kinds. But without the inflow of electrical power they are just lumps of metal and plastic, unable to function and serve. They cannot do their work until power is applied from a dynamic outside source"

Are you plugged in and performing the functions that God has given you the talents and power to perform for His honor and glory?  May we serve as "ones" who serve BY the strength that God supplies.  It is not our own power but God's power "flowing through" us.

We must be plugged in in order to serve.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

1 Peter 4:7-11 New King James Version (NKJV)

Serving for God's Glory

⁷ But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. ⁸ And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins." ⁹ Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. ¹⁰ As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, let him speak as the ^[a]oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the ^[b]dominion forever and ever. Amen.