🏠 1 Peter 4:9-10 | Resources, Time, and Talent

Happy Thursday, everyone!

Today, the gospel comes to life. Whether you’ve followed Jesus for decades or you’re new to exploring faith - what you read today just might change your life.

In today’s email…

• ✝️ Because of God’s gifts, we gift others

• 📃 A list of ways to serve..

• 🔦 Community spotlight

✉️ subscribe here | support our work 👐 

MEMORIZE 🧠 

____ __________ __ ___ _______ without grumbling.

As each has received a gift, ___ __ __ _____ ___ ______, as ____ _______ __ ____ ______ _____.

1 Peter 4:9-10

CONTEXT 📕 

We started touching on it yesterday, but let’s make this plain:

We give grace to others because God first gave grace to us.

The Greek word charisma — often translated “gift” — can also mean “grace.”

And the commands in 1 Peter 4:9–10 are built on that very concept.

So what exactly is grace?

It’s a common word thrown around in the Christian world. And sometimes we can hear a word so many times that we start to tune it out.

But let’s slow down and sit with it for a moment - because grace is at the very heart of what makes Christianity…well, Christianity.

So again, what is grace?

Some call it unmerited favor.

In less religious terms, you can simply think of it as:

receiving something you don’t deserve

Peter is urging the early church to take the gift God has given them and to offer it sacrificially to fellow believers.

And if you’ve ever given someone a gift or offered hospitality, you know that giving requires sacrifice. It costs something.

In a world marked by selfishness and a “what’s in it for me?” mentality, where do we get the power to give to people who don’t deserve it?

We don’t need to look any further than the cross.

On the cross, Jesus took on the punishment for your sin.

That’s mercy. Jesus was innocent but died in your place - because of that, you don’t receive what you do deserve (death and eternal separation from God).

And then there’s grace. Because of Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection, you get to receive that which you do not deserve (life and reconciliation with God).

When you put your faith in Jesus and declare him to be your Lord, you receive mercy and the gift of grace offered by God.

Paul uses the same Greek word (charisma) when he wrote to the church in Ephesus to describe this gift of eternal salvation:

Salvation is a gift of grace from God.

And grace received must become grace given.

APPLY AND RESPOND 🏃‍♂️

It’s easy to memorize this verse and move on with your life.

But as receivers of the gift of salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus, we’re called to offer gifts of grace to others — through love, meals, and helping hands.

Christ welcomed us while we were still sinners and didn’t deserve it (Romans 5:8), so we welcome others even when they’ve done nothing to deserve it.

God is inviting us to be better stewards of the gifts He has given us.

So here’s the challenge: commit to at least one of these examples of serving others this week.

Serve With Your Resources (Possessions & Money)

• Open your home for meals, Bible studies, or temporary lodging

• Fund a meal train or medical bills for a family in crisis

• Share your car with someone in need of transportation

• Donate clothing or furniture to those in need

• Financially support missionaries and nonprofits

Serve with your Time

• Visit the sick, elderly, or homebound

• Mentor or disciple a younger believer

• Babysit for a single parent or foster family

• Write notes or make calls to encourage isolated members of your church

Every act of service demonstrates the gospel. Sometimes louder than words.

Imagine if the entire Malachi Daily community doing just one of these things this week!

Friends, let’s do it for the glory of God.

COMMUNITY FEEDBACK ❤️ 

So so deep, this blessed me immensely. A family member is in the fire now, and I just realized me being there to help the rest of the family out is God’s presence and Holy Spirit for the person and others. My faithfulness in this furnace will be a testament of God's goodness to others. So blessed. Thank you so much.

- YN

Being part of Malachi Daily has been the best 🙏🏻 It makes me understand the scriptures better and feel closer to God. Thank you so much for taking the time to help us with our relationship with Jesus Christ!

- Jose

I am so grateful for the dedication of those who deliver these lessons. They don’t simply take a verse and teach it to you - they research and include the verses before and after so that the true meaning is not changed or watered down. The lessons are not just surface learning. They provide a very deep understanding of God’s word. Thank you for your work and faithfulness in God!

- LB

SHOUT-OUTS 📣 

HUGE thank you to Rebekah, Terissa, DB, WF, Evie, Gem, Ruben and everyone else who chose to pay-it-forward to support our work and help us keep operating!

PRAYER LINE ☎️ 

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NEW RESOURCE 🎨 

Check out our new resource: Bible verse coloring pages!

With just a few clicks, you can create a custom coloring book for your kids, grandkids or Sunday school classroom to help them connect with and memorize Scripture!

Here’s how it works:

• ✅ Select the coloring pages you want in the coloring book

• 📁 After payment, your coloring book file will automatically download as a PDF to your phone or computer (pay-it-forward subscribers will see their 100% OFF coupon code below!)

• 🖨️ Print it out and give it to your kids, grandkids or bring it to church (or enjoy some coloring yourself)

When you pay it forward, you get instant access to:

• 🎨 Unlimited coloring book pages

• 🎵 The next new resource coming soon!

• 💻️ Our course: Renew Your Mind - How to take your thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ!

You are not currently a pay-it-forward subscriber, but if you’d like to be, click here!

ANSWER KEY ✅ 

Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.

1 Peter 4:9-10