JanBeek

RECIPROCITY

What gifts have you been given that you are able to “give back”?

1 Peter 4:10-11 “Love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless – cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way God’s bright presence will be in everything through Jesus, and He’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything – encores to the end of time. Oh yes!”

And the simplified version of 1Peter4:10 from the ESV reads, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”

In the first version, Eugene H. Peterson in The Message mentioned two specific gifts: words and help. As bloggers, we know the gift of words is ours – and we intend by sharing our words to be a help to our readers, right?

How has the sharing of my words helped you? Did the reciprocity of giving and receiving described in 1Peter 4:10-11 speak to your heart as it did to mine?

In my Daily Guideposts devotional yesterday morning, Sabra Ciancanelli shared this scripture and ended with a prayer. I spoke it to my God today.

Join me:

“Thank You, Heavenly Father, for the variety of blessings You bestow upon us and the magic that happens when we share, honor, and celebrate our gifts.” Amen