“Each one, as a good manager of God’s different gifts, must use for the good of others the special gift he has received from God” (1 Peter 4:10 GNT).
Do you know what God created you for? Do you know what your destiny is? There are several things you need to do in order to fulfill your destiny that we’ll go through over the next few days using illustrations from the book of Esther.
The first thing you must do is recognize the gifts God has given you to use. These are the cards you are dealt in life. They include the things you can’t control—your parents, nationality, race, language. They also include your SHAPE—your spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences. These are the things that make you uniquely you.
Now, you are not responsible for the gifts God didn’t give you. In other words, if you are not artistically gifted, you are not expected to paint pictures like Rembrandt. But you are responsible for the ones he did give you.
When you get to heaven, God isn’t going to compare you with anyone else, but he will compare you with yourself. What did you do with what you were given? What could you have done if you had trusted God a little bit more? Romans 14:12 says, “Each of us will give an account of ourselves to God” (NIV).
Esther had three assets that God gave her to use to fulfill her destiny. She was intelligent, she was beautiful, and she had an attractive personality. Because of these qualities, “Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her . . . she won [the king’s] favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen” (Esther 2:15, 17 NIV).
God gave Esther these gifts for a purpose. God has also given you gifts for a purpose. And just like Esther, you have a responsibility to be a good steward of those gifts. Your gifts are not for your benefit. God gave you gifts for the benefit of other people.
When you discover your gifts and determine to use them for good, God can you use you, just like he used Esther, for his purposes on Earth.
Talk It Over
Make a list of the gifts God has given you—don’t forget to include your SHAPE and the things you can’t control. Ask yourself, “What has God given me to use for good?”
What is one way you can use your gifts for good this week?
Why is there freedom in doing what God created you to do and not anyone else?
God wants to use you for his good purposes, but you first have to accept his free offer of salvation. To get the assurance of heaven and start a relationship with Jesus Christ, you simply believe that he died for your sins and you receive his gift of forgiveness.
This is an offer to all people, no matter your religion, race, location, or past.
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:21 NIV). That is the best gift you are ever going to be offered. Don’t wait another day to claim it!
Make this your prayer: “Dear God, thank you for your goodness to me. Thank you for loving me and caring about every detail of my life. Thank you for creating me with gifts and a purpose. Most of all, thank you for sending Jesus to save me. I believe he died on the cross for me, and I want to receive him as my Savior. Please forgive my sins and accept me into your family. I want to learn to love you and trust you and follow you for the rest of my life on Earth. Then I want to join you in heaven forever. Amen.”
If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at Rick@PastorRick.com and let me know about it. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus.
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This devotional © 2020 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
