The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon

“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the multifaceted grace of God. Whoever speaks is to do so as one who is speaking actual words of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

—1 Peter 4:10–11

God encompasses all gifts, but we, as individuals, cannot. His grace is multifaceted like the light passing through a diamond; each of us reflects different aspects of him out into the world. 

He’s made each of us unique—some to speak and some to serve. I love how broad that is, because there are innumerable situations in which one can speak and innumerable ways in which one can serve.

The key is that whatever we do, we do it “by the strength which God supplies.” We can spend years trying to serve without considering how God is leading, strengthening, and equipping us as individuals. When we do this, we aren’t serving out of his strength but attempting to serve out of our own.

Even good works can be works of the flesh if they’re not God–led. 

Though we may not see the earthly outcomes we hope even when serving faithfully, if our service also leaves us drained and hopeless, let’s step out of the bustle and back into the stream of Christ’s living water where he will guide our steps into serving through his strength in the ways he has called us.

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