Little Kindnesses...

Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.  If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. --1 Peter 4:9-11

Hospitality...ungrudging hospitality is such a beautiful practical way to show love for the people God has put in our lives.  Matthew 25:40 says this:

 And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'

Wow!  Any kindness shown to a child of God is as if you are showing it to the Lord Himself.  Both I and my family have been blessed by this kind of hospitality from fellow Christians.  It touched our hearts deeply and is something that we will not ever forget. This kind of hospitality always encourages me and spurs me on to be more Christlike in that regard myself.   Done right and accepted in the right spirit it will surround and encompass journey-weary, fellow Christians with His reviving love.  Don't limit your hospitality to just entertaining...be welcoming, kind to those God puts in front of you daily.  Open your heart and give them His love.  Put them first.  Do those little kindnesses to them that will be remembered for a lifetime.  You will be amazed at how you will be blessed and how God will enlarge your own heart...less of you...more of Him.  AND isn't that the goal.

Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers,  who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well,  because they went forth for His name's sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles. We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth. --3rd John 1:5-8

Verse 10 and the first part of verse 11 go on to say, " As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.  If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies," God has entrusted us with His grace...you and me! We are to be good stewards of it. A steward is defined as one who oversees the resources of another.  We are to be good overseers of the grace God has shown us in the gifts that He has blessed us with to minister His grace through them to others.  Did you get that?  I know there must be a simpler way of saying it.  God gives us grace through His gifts to us...we are to use these gifts of grace to minister His grace to others.  What an opportunity we have to share His grace...the grace we have been so freely given with others. 

All of us are called to serve our Lord...not in the same capacity but to serve nevertheless.  Each one of us have different gifts in different measures. God works uniquely in each of us. 

There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.  There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.  And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: --1 Cor 12:4-7

These gifts are not given to be used selfishly for our own gratification or for self promotion, but for the profit of the entire body.   We are, as said earlier, to be good stewards of them. They were given to us for the glory of God and the good of others and are to be ministered to others with the ability which our God supplies. Some gifts might seem to be more important than other gifts, but it is not because the person who is the minister of the gift is superior.  It is God who gives the gift and God who supplies the power. All of us are tools in His hand.

The last part of verse 11 says, " that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen."   Do not boast about the gifts God has blessed you with by taking the glory for yourself. First Corinthians 4:7 says:

"For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?:

This is a difficult one girls.  It is so easy to "forget" that it is God who works in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure. At times when we exercise our gifts there will be the temptation to take the glory for ourselves instead of pointing to to the Lord to whom the glory belongs. Or even to look back at what you have accomplished in pride forgetting it was not you at all.  It is important to make a practice as we serve God to serve Him with a heart that is humble...a heart that is grateful that the Lord would give him an opportunity to minister His grace to His beloved people.

1 Corinthians 10:31 says "...whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."  Will this bring glory to God?  is a good thing to ask yourself before doing anything. We are to live for God's glory...the glory of God is why we were created.  We are faced often with decisions.  Whether to do this or whether to do that...or whether this course of action would be right or wrong.   Here is a good rule to apply: Is there any glory for God in it?

Love
Mom