Extending God’s Grace to Others

1 Peter 4:10. “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.”

Here’s another one of my all-time favorite verses. It packs a ton into a short sentence.

First, there is the gift. In this context Peter is talking about spiritual gifts. These are imparted by the Holy Spirit to believers, and include teaching, leading, prophesying, etc. (see Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 for more examples). While these can be also seen as natural talents or developed skills, spiritual gifts are distinctly given to God’s people for a particular purpose. Here and elsewhere scripture tells us that all believers have at least one spiritual gift. This is huge. We tend to think that we’re not Mother Teresa or Billy Graham and so we’re sort of second class saints. But we have been given a spiritual gift that God considers to be of enormous importance – and our gift is designed just for us. So let’s forget about comparing ourselves to others.

Second, there is the purpose. Some of these spiritual gifts could be used for our own benefit. But we’re told that the purpose of these gifts is to serve others. Again, we don’t have to think that how we serve others is better or worse than someone else – it’s just different. God has always given me a heart for younger people, and I was drawn to the ministry of Young Life which the Lord has used in big ways for over half a century to reach adolescents around the world. It was very clear to me early on that I was not gifted to be an up-front leader of kids. But I do have administrative and leadership gifts that God has used to help the ministry plan for the future, structure its organization and raise funds.

Third, there is the value. The idea that each of us can participate in extending God’s grace to others is profound. God’s grace is of incalculable value. God has redeemed people through the blood of Jesus Christ. He loves everyone in the world and he cares about those is need. As the omnipotent God of the universe he does not need us to help him. But this is the plan he has chosen. So each of us – using the unique gifts that God has given us – has the opportunity to extend God’s love to others, to extend his grace. I picture this as a rainbow or a huge quilt that has tremendous variety but all works together for God’s purpose and will. What is your spiritual gift? Make sure you know, then put it to use serving others and watch God do something spectacular!