Ministering The Gift

1 Pet 4:10 - As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

I thought this verse was appropriated considering the season we are in. The King James states "as each one has received the gift". The greatest gift of all is the Gift of Christ. God gave His only begotten son to the world so that the world might be saved. The gift of God saves man from their sin. We are not just forgiven but delivered from Sins nature and power.

As we have received the Gift of Christ we are commanded in this verse to minister it to one another. Jesus is the gift that keeps on giving. When we receive Jesus and become His disciple, He keeps filling us with gift. He gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit that in turn gifts us His gifts such as the nine gifts listed in 1 Cor 12. One of the things I love about Christmas is the excitement that comes with giving and receiving gifts. Shouldn't we as Christians be just as excited everyday to give the Gift of Christ to others.

Minister - to be a servant, attendant, domestic, to serve, wait upon.

Every Christian is called to minister. Through tradition ministry has been limited to professional people (Minister). Every one who has received the Gift of Christ has the ability and responsibility to turn around a minister the Gift to others. As each part of Christs body (the members) minister Him and His gifts to others God's manifold grace is spread and experienced by others.

Stewards - a steward, manager, superintendent (whether free-born or as was usually the case, a freed-man or a slave) to whom the head of the house or proprietor has intrusted the management of his affairs, the care of receipts and expenditures, and the duty of dealing out the proper portion to every servant and even to the children not yet of age.

The scripture says it is required in stewardship that one be found faithful. We must be good stewards of the Gift that God has given us. God has given us stewardship over the Gift of His Son. We are called to administer Him to others. May we be found faithful today in doing what God has called us all to do. May we give and experience the true gift of Christmas by giving and receiving Jesus Christ!!!!!!