Good morning, Crossroads! Today, I want to talk about shortcuts. We all love them, whether it's finding a quicker route using the Waze app or choosing the shortest line at Target. But sometimes shortcuts don't work out as planned, like my recent Chick-fil-A drive-thru mishap.

This brings us to our topic: a biblical shortcut to connecting with God. In 1 Peter, we learn how to deepen our relationship with God quickly. Peter, originally a fisherman, became a follower of Jesus and witnessed incredible things. He wrote letters to early Christians facing persecution, providing guidance and hope.

In 1 Peter 4, he mentions that God has given each of us unique spiritual gifts. These gifts are meant to serve others, not ourselves. By using these gifts to help others, we not only fulfill our purpose but also strengthen our connection with God.

Over the next three weeks, we'll explore this concept further in our series, "Make a Splash." We'll dive into how using our spiritual gifts can transform our lives and relationships. Let's open our Bibles to 1 Peter and discover this divine shortcut together.

Thank you for listening. For more, visit CrossroadsChristian.org and PastorRustyGeorge.com, and check out our podcast, Simple Faith with Rusty George.