Week of March 22nd, 2026

Encouragement from God's Word

The Bible certainly teaches us to be humble. We cannot save ourselves. Our possessions and abilities are gifts from God. At the same time, we should not deny the gifts that we have received from our Lord. Martin Luther said this:
What God has given and granted one should confess and not deny. . . . It would not be humbling yourself to lie and say that you do not have what you do have. If God has given you something, you should say: “To be sure, I have this and that; but I do not have it of myself. God gave it to me.” Therefore I neither should nor want to exalt myself and despise others, who do not have it. (What Luther Says, p. 1335)

In particular, if God has given you an ability to be used in service of others, don’t deny the gift from God. Instead, use it! Put your faith in Jesus into practice as you be the person that God has made you to be.

1 Peter 4:10
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.