Serve with the Strength God Provides
“7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 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. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
Peter urges the recipients of his letter to "be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray," as the end times draw near. This vigilance is crucial, as losing focus may lead to forgetting the values of faith. Prayer is about standing before God. Also, he emphasizes the importance of deep love for one another. Love is the essence of our faith and a natural outcome of a deep relationship with God. Loving God inevitably manifests in a life of loving others. Living in love for one another goes beyond mere prayer or confession—it is reflected in service and acts of care.
Service is not simply an expression of capability but must be motivated by love. Being good stewards means using the gifts God has given us to serve one another and fulfilling each of our roles. True service and love can only come from the strength that God provides. Everything begins with the Lord and returns to Him, and it is through the grace of salvation in Jesus Christ that all of this is made possible.
Therefore, we are called to worship God and give Him all glory and power. As we take these words to heart, may we each become worshipers who, from our respective places, pray for, love, and serve one another, exalting the Lord.
Prayer: Lord, cleanse our troubled hearts in the presence of the Lord, and fill us with the spirit of worship as we pray. May this spirit of worship overflow with love in our hearts, and may we serve with joy as we act in that love. Make our church community a place overflowing with worship and love for You, and may we experience the grace of growing to be more like You through our love and service for one another.
(Note: This summary was created based on an AI draft.)
Devotional content is available on the Our Daily Bread website.