Willing Heart

Scripture:
1 Peter 4: 8-10 – “Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”

Observation:
Peter is telling the people that Christ is coming and to be ready. To be ready is to draw closer to God and to love others. God wants me to love even the people who are to me unlovable or different than me. The great thing about how God formed us is that He made us all unique with different gifts, personalities, and passions. It’s important for me to use those gifts for others and not for my personal wants or desires. For when I serve others they see Christ in me and His Name can be glorified in that.

Application:
Today is the day I need to be ready for Christ coming. I want to love God in my thoughts and attitudes first, and to serve and love others second. What better way to point people to the foot of the cross than to serve them, and care about them.  To realize it’s at times in the little things that I am able to tell people about the Savior who loves them. The tendency is for me to feel an urgency to get my stuff done, that to do list that can be a mile long. What if I slowed down to notice those around me, to serve others as they come around me? To reach out to people who are not in my everyday circles. It’s exciting to think what God could do through me if I am willing. People need to see and get to know a loving Father who wants to restore and fill them with His love! Am I willing to be that vessel? Even when it’s not on my time, to do list? Is it really ever my time? Am I willing to give Him All?

Tomorrow is the day I need to be ready, too.

Prayer:
Oh how I want to point people to you, Father. I am praying for a willing heart to follow you. Thanks you for the gifts you have given me, help me to use them for your glory and not my own. Father, I ask that you will point me  to people who need to know more about you and show me the actions to do and the Words to say.  May my life glorify you!

— Melinda McAdams, middle school minister, Reservoir campus