My dad is a carpenter by trade. He’s a quiet, hardworking man who is very talented, but never the center of attention.

Recently, a friend died and I went back to the tiny community that I grew up in to attend the funeral. The service was held in the only room big enough to hold the event- the high school gym. After the funeral, I was standing in the back of the gym chatting with some former classmates while a few men gathered up the folding chairs that had been set out on the basketball court.

My dad passed our group while carrying a load of chairs and one of the girls commented; “Ron, you are always gathering up chairs! I don’t think that I have any childhood memory of you where you weren’t picking up the chairs.”

I caught my breath.

She was right! No one had asked him to gather up the chairs, there was no glory or payment in doing it. Before that day, I’m not sure if anyone had ever even noticed. My dad simply observed that the chairs needed to be put away and put them away. Noticing the running toilet at church or the rickety railing on the wheelchair ramp, and putting chairs away after every meeting, potluck and baby shower is part of my dad’s ministry.

Maybe you are like my dad and your spiritual gift is not one that gets you any press. If so, do not think less of your gift! In first Peter 4:10-11, Peter wrote: “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should speak the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provided, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.”

Our spiritual gifts are exactly that- Divine gifts. Because of that fact, we should execute them with faithfulness and precision, doing our absolute best. “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous (1 Peter 3:12),” whether anyone else has their eye on us or not.

We are so glad to have you in Bible study with us! If you miss a devotion, you can find them archived at https://comethirstyministry.com/blog/

Reading Plan- Week Forty-Six

Day One- 1 Peter 4
Day Two- 1 Peter 5
Day Three- 2 Peter 1
Day Four- 2 Peter 2
Day Five- 2 Peter 3