Single and Not Sorry: Devotions of Real Encouragement for Right NowSample

Gifted Glory-Bringers

God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God Himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to Him forever and ever! Amen.

I PETER 4:10–11 NLT

Every person you know—friend, family member, and even stranger—has a unique and beautiful gift. Maybe you have a friend whose empathy ushers healing into the lives of many, while another expresses her creativity in fresh and stunning ways. Maybe a family member volunteers their time to help others or opens their home to the hurting in their community. We are each gifted uniquely to show God’s love through different avenues, and others are gifted in ways we are not. As Peter tells us in today’s verses, we are each given a spiritual gift from God. It cannot be denied: you have been given a gift by God.

Notice also that this passage says nothing about one’s marital status. It can be tempting to withhold the greatest parts of yourself for later—for a relationship, for marriage, for someday. But God has given you the strength and energy to exercise your gift right now. You can be a light to the world because of who you are in this moment, not waiting until the elusive “someday.” Through the exercising of your gift, you are bringing glory to God, and what could be better than that? The opportunity to be a glory-bringer certainly cannot wait for a walk down the aisle. Perhaps you’re gifted in speaking or teaching, cooking or crafting, generosity or peacemaking. Powered by God, you can live out your gifts today. The world needs you, glory-bringer, and it needs you today.

Right Now Reminder:

You have a God-given gift that you can use to serve others. Don’t wait to exercise it. The world needs everything you have to offer right now.