PODCAST
Love and Serve Other
June 28th, 2023
1 Peter 4:7-11
It is amazing how many of God’s commandments are rooted in two important principles: Loving and serving others. Two verses from 1 Peter 4 catch my attention. First, “Love covers over a multitude of sins” (v. 8b). As we grow in Christian love, we are compelled to see others through that lens.
When we love as God loved us, we learn to think differently about our pain and suffering. In our humanity, we don’t forget the sins others commit against us, but we can forgive them through God’s power. Our desire to love can supersede the pain; sins committed against us no longer need control us.
Second, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others” (v. 10a). God has given each of us gifts that God uses for His glory. Those gifts are not for us to well up with pride about and keep for ourselves. The reason we are given these gifts is so we can be conduits of God’s grace to others. It’s a picture of God’s kingdom: filled with people who love and serve God and others.
Author: Carol Rittenhouse
