See Jeremiah 29:11. God is in control. He has a plan for our lives. He wants us to serve in the Kingdom of God. How is your service? Can it be improved? We’re not talking about sport! How is your service for God? Peter gives us some advice on serving God in our life.

1 – Keep loving one another earnestly (vs. 8)

We are to rub out each other’s sins with love. Don’t be a creaking door. Don’t keep a spiritual list of what others have done to you.

2 – Show hospitality without grumbling (vs. 9)

This is the test of your love! If you are grumbling then you are not loving! How many times do I have to show hospitality to someone I find difficult to love? As many times as it takes you to do it without grumbling! Some people make you feel at home and others make you wish you were there! Do it with gossiping. Keep it to yourself.

3 – You have a gift to serve others (vs. 10-11)

We all have a gift to serve others. It is not about helping you. You have at least one spiritual gift from God. He gave it to you to help others. We are not to hoard for our own use. It is to edify the body of Christ. Don’t abuse it. It can’t be used to run others down. It either builds up or it is being misused.

We serve in the strength of God. There are different kinds of gifts. We don’t use it in our own strength. It is to the glory of God and not man. God does not share His glory with others. Our reward is in Heaven, not here. God has given us gifts according to His grace. They are not all the same. We all play our part in the Church of Jesus Christ. Exercise your gift. We learn to use it better with practice.

Categories: 1 Peter