Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. v8

 
As a follow up to my post yesterday, Peter is writing us to be ready for when Jesus returns, not just for ourselves, but for others so that they can see Jesus in us and be attracted to Him and be snatched from the fire (Jude 1:23).

Peter expands in verses 9-11.

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. v9-11

My Prayer: Jesus, You are a great God full of love and mercy for me.  I know this because You pursued me even though I am broken and I sin.  You restored me and reconciled me to You.  You give me life.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such effort as I continue in my sin...worry, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength and help me love others as You do.  God give me strength to be who You intend me to be and so that I can please and glorify You.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength to be who You intend us to be as parents.  Help me be the husband and spiritual leader You intend me to be.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Savior.  Help me serve You, my church, my family, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.

You Have a Gift to Give

Ephesians 3

I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. v7

The devotion today is a powerful reminder that grace is not meant to be kept but instead is meant to be given...to others just as freely as it was given to me.  Core to this message is that we all have something to give...grace.  Of course, God gives each of us different spiritual gifts, but we have at least one in common and that is the gift of grace and the ability to allow grace to flow through us to others.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God - so full of patience, grace, compassion, mercy, etc...Thank You Jesus but I am not deserving of such blessings.  I often fail to give others grace and I know this disappoints You so please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects of chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message today and every day.

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

1 Peter 4

 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. v10

Humility and service are core to what Jesus asks of us...it demonstrates our love of Jesus and others.

Humility and service are discussed throughout scripture, including:
- Matthew 20
- Ephesians 6
- Mark 9
- 1 Corinthians 9

By implication, we must also "die to self" or "deny oneself" as posted here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God full of love for me as demonstrated by blessing upon blessing and the pouring out of mercy, compassion, patience, etc. for me. I am not deserving of such blessings and love.  I very often fail to lead in my household as You intend for me.  Forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome some such sin and turn from it towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me be humble and serve others - denying myself and my selfish desires.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer. Help her have a productive appointment this morning.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Hebrews 6

We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. v12

Jesus our Lord and Savior gives all of us skills and abilities - gifts - that He wants us to use for His Glory.  At the same time we are not be lazy.

See also:
1 Timothy 4
1 Corinthians 12
Luke 12
Matthew 25

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your designs and Your works are amazing - how You designed all of Your children with skills and abilities that we can share and work together and how You designed the heavens and the earth and all of its inhabitants.  That I get to experience Your designs and works as well as salvation are amazing gifts - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such gifts.  I am lazy.  Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You Jesus.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me use my gifts for Your glory.  Give me strength. Give Lisa strength, comfort, and freedom from pain.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

1 Timothy 4

Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. v14

Paul is addressing Timothy here encouraging Timothy to use his gift of teaching.  I found a great reference on this topic here. We must all remember that we exist solely to glorify God.

My Prayer: Lord, what an awesome God You are that Your design for all things is so perfect that all things work together for Your glory and for such good!  How great You are!  You give me and all of Your children spiritual gifts that we enjoy using and bless others...Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth all of Your love and blessing.  I am harsh with my thoughts, words, and actions.  Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You Jesus.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me use my spiritual gifts to all of my ability.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength, comfort, and freedom from pain.  Please heal and cure Lisa of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

2 Corinthians 1

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. v3-4

I know God comforts me and Lisa but I don't yet understand why God is allowing Lisa to have cancer...I know God is good and I wait expectantly for God's goodness but I am loathe to suffer through this and more importantly I am loathe to see Lisa suffer...she has been nothing but sweetness, gentleness, and service as a wife and mom to myself, Zach, and Dustin.  I look to Jesus Christ alone for comfort and wisdom...to help us through this.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are my rock...I know we can count on You.  When the whole world crumbles around me...I know You are there and always will be.  I am not deserving of such a God.  I am weak, I worry, I doubt, I am impatient, quick to anger and slow to listen, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

1 Corinthians 12

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.  Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. v12-14

Paul discusses how God created the church for us to be dependent on each other through the distribution of spiritual gifts.  Earlier in this chapter he writes:

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

 

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.  All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. v4-11

Right now, with Lisa facing breast cancer...I see the body at work coming to support a "part" in need.  Praise God for the church and His perfect design of the church and how the church glorifies God by working as intended.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God and Your design, Your works....everything about You is perfect and I am amazed that You would come to earth to suffer and die...for me...knowing everything about me, including my sin.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and affection.  I am selfish, full of worry, impatient, harsh with my thoughts, words and actions, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me for my sin!  Help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.