Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:10–11
As we enter the summer, let us remember what this letter from Peter tells us about living the life of good stewards and serving one another with whatever gift each of us has received. Summer is a great time for trying new things. Let us remember that we do not have to be the best at what we do. What we do need is to acknowledge our own gifts and use them as best as we can.
First, as we pray, let’s really pay attention to what it is that we’re praying, just as we would pay attention to the words of God. Likewise, let us then find ways of shaping our lives to conform with what we pray. So, if you’re praying for hurricane victims or refugees, maybe you should give to Episcopal Relief and Development and Episcopal Migration Ministries. If you’re praying for the hungry or the lonely, feed and visit them. If you pray for justice and peace, work for justice and peace.
This is a lot to ask of each other, so it’s a good thing that there are so many of us to do it! You cannot do everything, but you can do something. Each of brings different gifts to the altar, and the more faithfully we learn to bring our own gifts, the more faithfully we can steward the gifts that others may not yet know that they have or may not yet know they can bring. Such stewardship is the praise and worship of a God whose grace is manifold.
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