Devotions — Week of October 4, 2026

Why does Jesus work through His people instead of simply providing everything directly? Because stewardship is uniquely glorious.

Peter says that we are to use the gifts we have received to serve one another as “good stewards of God’s varied grace.” The goal is that “in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.”

God could accomplish His purposes without us. He doesn’t need our money, our time, or our abilities. But He gives us the incredible privilege of participating in His work.

Paul describes the church as one body with many different members. Not everyone has the same function. Some teach. Some serve. Some encourage. Some give generously. Some lead. Some show mercy.

The point isn’t that everyone should do everything. The point is that everyone has something to contribute.

Think about a father building something with his child. The father may not need the child’s help. But when the child picks up a tool and participates, there is something deeply satisfying about watching the child join in the work.

In a similar way, God gives His children the privilege of participating in what He is doing. When we faithfully use what He has given us to serve His church, He is glorified.

That changes the way we think about serving.

We aren’t merely filling a volunteer position. We aren’t simply donating money. We aren’t just checking something off our church responsibility list.

We are taking what Jesus has given us and using it to build His house.

Gospel Focus: Jesus has already done the work necessary to save us. Our stewardship does not earn His love or secure our salvation. Instead, because we have received His grace, we have the joy of responding to that grace by serving Him and His people.

After talking about giving, serving, time, money, and spiritual gifts, we need to remember something very important:

It all starts with a gift, and the gift isn’t yours.

Paul writes, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”

Before Jesus asks us to steward what He has given us, He gives us something we could never give ourselves.

Salvation.

We are saved by grace through faith. We aren’t saved because we served enough, gave enough, volunteered enough, or became good enough. Salvation is God’s gift.

That means the order matters.

We don’t give to Jesus so that He will save us. We don’t serve the church so that God will love us. We don’t give money so that God will protect us or give us something in return.

We first receive from Jesus. Then, having received His grace, we respond with our lives.

Jesus’ gift is far greater than anything we could ever give Him. He gives forgiveness for sin. He makes us right with God. Through faith in His death and resurrection, He gives us life.

So before asking, “What am I going to give Jesus?” there is a more important question: “Have I received Jesus’ gift of salvation by faith?”

If you have trusted Christ, then stewardship becomes a response of gratitude. Jesus has already given you everything you need for salvation. Now you can take the time, money, abilities, relationships, and opportunities He has entrusted to you and use them for His glory.

You aren’t paying Jesus back. You are simply using His gifts to build His church.

Gospel Focus: The gospel is not about what you can do for God. It begins with what God has done for you through Jesus. Salvation is a gift received by faith, not something earned by works. Our stewardship flows from that grace.