Greetings to you all in the name of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.
Equip to serve:
It symbolises us to be faithful stewards.
We should see it as an expected part of fulfilling God’s purpose for us on earth. By grace, we received the gift, and it is by grace that we use the gift. We serve God because God gives, not because we earn the right to be used by God. God gave us our gift entirely by grace, and we minister it entirely by grace. Christians are given spiritual gifts to fulfil a special function within the Body of Christ. Each member receives at least one spiritual gift, and Peter calls us to be good stewards of all we receive from the Lord. Our gifts differ according to the grace God gives to each of us, and we are instructed to exercise them in accordance with the proportion of faith we have received.
The inflow of our spiritual giftings from God should result in a beneficial outflow of His grace to others. Gifts are not for our own selfish gratification, but for the edification of the Body of Christ. The grace that pours into our lives should become a channel of God’s blessing which, in turn, is willingly poured out in service to others, for His greater glory and praise.
We are called to be “good stewards” of the manifold grace of God. Stewardship takes responsibility and intentionality. We are not to hoard or neglect the gifts god has given us but rather to use them actively for the benefit of others. As Peter writes, “Whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—so that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ”.When faithfully stewarded, God’s manifold grace brings glory to God and edifies the Church.
As we serve one another, we do it with the strength God provides, the ability which God supplies – so that to Him belongs the glory and the dominion forever and ever.
