Serving this Season

Esther “ben” Khimchand was a 20th century writer born into an ordinary family in Gujarat. Through her writing, she advocated for women’s rights in the state. She wrote that good education could help place women in respectable positions within their families and communities. Esther didn’t keep her gifts to herself or use them for her own profit. Rather, she used them to empower those around her.

Peter addresses the first-century Christians who were scattered across Asia Minor as refugees (1 PETER 1:1). He nudges them to “love each other deeply” and use “whatever gift” they had received to “serve others” (1 PETER 4:8, 10). Instead of taking credit for these gifts, Peter urges them to consider their spiritual gifts as “God’s grace.” He encourages them to be “faithful stewards” who diligently manage what rightfully belonged to God. He also urges them to speak with an understanding that they were speaking “the very words of God” and to serve people “with the strength that God provides” so that, in and through their actions, God may be praised (V.11).

In this season of gift giving, more than the material possessions we can share, we too like Esther and the early Church have gifts we have been entrusted with. It may be preparing a meal, answering questions about Christ, or opening up our homes to someone who needs love this season. While these gifts may seem simple to us, they serve to enlarge God’s kingdom so that others may experience the greatest gift of all—Jesus.

What gifts has God entrusted you with? How might you use them to serve others?

Dear God, strengthen me to faithfully serve You by serving others.