Open Up Your Tool Box

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 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 . . . (1 Peter 4:8-11)

Every believer has been gifted with a set of tools to use to go to work within the Body and without. Whether we can serve, pray, encourage, teach, shepherd, show hospitality, we do it to first serve God and to then to bring others to Him. It does no good to have a tool and let it sit in the tool box. Some one or some thing needs work to be done!

However, as I am finding out lately, there are also times when we have to borrow some tools as well. God calls us out of our comfort zones often to help outside of our gifting.

We may be comfortable teaching for instance, yet there is a need to serve food at the children's ministry event. Perhaps our gift is in praying and encouraging others, yet there is a need in the nursery or senior care. Even at home as I discovered lately, I must serve within areas in which I am not too comfortable. I have had to fix a sink, repair a ceiling fan, even change a tire. These are definitely not things I enjoy or am physically gifted at doing. It is not easy. It is not preferred. However, God is calling me to serve nonetheless! It's the same with our spiritual gifts.

Peter states in verse eight above to "above all, love each other deeply". I don't know about you, but I need to act on that verse! Open up your tool box today . . . even borrow a tool or two from your neighbor, and love on people today!