1 Peter 4:10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
Have you ever thought of your life as a steward of “God’s grace?” Perhaps in the Christian realm, we think of being a steward (manager) of the wealth God has given us. We perhaps talk about stewarding our time and, yes, our talents. However, when’s the last time you have been encouraged to steward God’s grace…in its various forms?
The first reaction to grace is what God has done FOR us through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Rightly so, we treasure God’s grace as his undeserved love that he shows to us by NOT treating us as our sins deserve, but by applying the perfect life and death of Jesus to our account so we are now seen as perfect and the punishment for our sin paid for.
But what are the “various forms” of grace that God is a) entrusting to us and b) asking us to steward them. Receiving the saving grace of God is a treasure in itself. However, when God gives us saving grace, he also gifts us with gifts of grace.
What are those gifts of grace?
All the ways that grace expresses itself in and through our lives is what God invites and encourages us to manage.
You see, grace changes our eternal destination, it also changes our life’s purpose. Really all of our lives becomes an opportunity to respond to the saving grace God has given to us.
Perhaps more specifically, we begin to see that God’s Spirit does give us spiritual gifts to use in the work of the kingdom. He can change the focus of our careers, hobbies, interests and experiences to now ask the question, “How can I use this experience, interest, or talent to the glory of God and the expansion of his kingdom?” When grace changes our heart, it changes how we steward life.
Life becomes about glorifying God and serving others…responding to the grace that has been shown to us and realizing everything with which I have been gifted is a gift of grace.
Apply: Make a list of your abilities, talents, spiritual gifts, hobbies and interests. Next to each of them write, “Gift of God.” Then in a third column answer, “I can use this to serve God and others by…”
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the gift of grace that saves me from sin and for service in your kingdom. Help me to faithfully steward every aspect of life to your glory. AMEN.