Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

January 21
Tuesday


IN HARMONY

READ: 4:7-11
1 Peter
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As each one has
received a gift, minister
it to one another, as
good stewards of the
manifold grace of God.
__1 Peter 4:10
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I love playing the 5-string banjo. But it has one drawback. The fifth string will harmonize with only a limited number of simple chords. When other musicians want to play more complicated music, the banjoist has to adapt. He can lend marvelous melodic tones to a jam session only by making the right adjustments.

Just as musicians adjust with their instruments, we as believers also need to make adjustments with our spiritual gifts if we want to harmonize with others to serve God. For instance, those who have the gift of teaching must coordinate with those who have the gift of organizing meetings and with those who make sure meeting rooms are set up and cleaned. All of us have spiritual gifts, and we must work together if God's work is to get done.

The apostle Peter said, "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God" (1 Peter 4:10). Stewardship requires cooperation. Think about your spiritual gifts (Rom. 12; 1 Cor. 12; Eph. 4; 1 Peter 4). Now reflect on how you can dovetail their use with the gifts of other believers. When our talents are used in a complementary way, the result is harmony and glory to God. __Dennis Fisher

````````````````````````````````Without a note we sing in tune,`````````````````````````````
``````````````````````````````````An anthem loud we bring,```````````````````````````````
``````````````````````````````When willingly we give our gifts```````````````````````````````
``````````````````````````````Of Labor to our King. __Branon````````````````````````````````

************************************Today's Bible Reading __ 1 Peter 4:7-11*********************************

7 But the end of all things
is at hand; therefore be
serious and watchful in
your prayers. 8 And above
all things have fervent love
for one another, for "love
will cover a multitude of
sins.

9 Be hospitable to one
another without grumbling.

10 As each one has received
a gift, minister it to one
another, as good stewards
of the manifold grace of
God. 11 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.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The Bible Reader's Companion provides these helpful insights into
today's reading: "Peter has described the pagan's choice: to satisfy
their human desires. He now describes the lifestyle that pagans can
make no sense of, but which reflects the will of God for His people.
This includes: self-control, prayer, mutual love, unstinting hospitality,
using gifts for the benefit of others, serving wholeheartedly and
'with the strength God provides.' "