Day 20 — Your Gift

“As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.”

— 1 Peter 4:10 (BSB)

Imagine getting an amazing birthday present, maybe a brand-new bike. But instead of riding it, you leave it in the box in your closet. Months go by. The bike never gets used. What a waste!

Peter says God has given every one of His children a gift. Not a bike, but abilities and talents He wants you to use. And He doesn’t want those gifts sitting in a closet. He wants you to use them “to serve one another.”

What kind of gifts? Here are a few:

• Encouraging. Knowing just what to say to cheer someone up.
• Helping. Seeing what needs to be done and doing it.
• Teaching. Explaining things so others understand.
• Creativity. Art, music, writing, building or cooking.
• Hospitality. Making people feel welcome and at home.
• Compassion. Noticing and caring for people who are hurting.
• Leading. Helping a group work together.
• Giving. Loving to share what you have.
• Praying. Faithfully bringing others to God.

Maybe you already know what your gifts are. Maybe you’re still figuring it out. Here are some clues: What do you love doing? What do other people say you’re good at? When do you feel most alive while helping someone?

Peter calls us “good stewards.” A steward is someone who takes care of something that belongs to someone else. Your gifts don’t really belong to you. They belong to God. He loaned them to you so you could use them for Him.

And notice what the gifts are for: “to serve one another.” Your gifts aren’t just for you to be famous or impressive. They’re for blessing others. If you can draw, you could make a card for someone who’s sick. If you’re good at math, you could help a classmate who’s struggling. If you love music, you could sing for older people at a nursing home.

You don’t have to wait until you’re grown up. Start using your gifts now, right where you are.

Think about it: What do you think your gifts might be? How could you use one of them to serve someone this week?

Try this: Ask a parent or friend, “What do you think I’m good at?” Then use that gift to help someone today.

Dear God, thank You for the gifts You’ve given me. Help me discover them and use them, not to show off, but to serve others. Help me be a good steward of what You’ve given me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.