The Daily Devotional
Friday, July 25, 2025
Stewards of Grace: Using God-Given Gifts
Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. (1 Peter 4:10)
Introduction
Each of us has been entrusted with unique gifts—divinely granted abilities and dispositions meant not merely for personal fulfillment but for the service of others. In this verse, the apostle Peter reminds early believers, many facing persecution, that they are not called to hide or hoard their gifts, but to steward them. This is a powerful word—steward—implying care, responsibility, and active engagement. Whether your gift is speaking, creating, organizing, or simply listening, it is a piece of God’s grace designed to be shared.
Reflection
Imagine a neighborhood potluck. Each person brings a dish—maybe one family is known for their creamy mac and cheese, another for a bright citrus salad, and someone else quietly places warm bread rolls on the table. No one shows up with empty hands, and no one eats just their own contribution. The richness of the meal comes not from one dish, but from everyone offering what they have.
In the same way, God has filled our spiritual “kitchens” with ingredients—gifts we are meant to prepare and bring to the table of community. Some may have the gift of encouragement, others hospitality, craftsmanship, caregiving, or teaching. No single gift is greater than another, because all come from the same grace-filled Source. The richness of Christian life is found when these offerings come together.
Application
Today, consider this question: What’s in your basket? What gift has God entrusted to you that you may be overlooking or underestimating? Don’t wait for a pulpit or a title to use your gift. Maybe it’s sending a text to someone who’s been quiet lately, or offering your time to help a neighbor fix a fence, or simply sharing a kind word where bitterness usually grows. Find one way today to serve someone else with the grace you’ve been given.
Conclusion
You are not empty-handed. You are a steward of God’s manifold grace. Whatever your gift—be it great or seemingly small—offer it faithfully. When we live this way, the Body of Christ becomes whole, and God is glorified through our everyday acts of love and service.
Prayer
Gracious Lord, thank You for the gifts You have placed within me—some I know well, and others I am still discovering. Help me to be a faithful steward of Your grace, using what I have not for my own gain, but to bless others. Give me eyes to see the needs around me and the courage to respond with what You have given. Let my life reflect Your generosity, and may every act of service bring glory to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Devotional by: Kenny Sallee, ThM — Deming, NM, USA
The Bible texts are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible (NRSV)© 1989, 1993, the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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