Wonderfully Different
Your calling, your gifts, and blessings are all unique to you.
“Jacob called to his sons, and said: “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which will happen to you in the days to come...All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father spoke to them, and blessed them. He blessed everyone according to his own blessing.”
Genesis 49:1, 28
When Jacob gathered his sons together he blessed each one according to who they were. We live in a world that tries to make one size fits all and encourages comparison. God wants to see us embrace our individuality within the broader community so we see how our unique blessing is perfect for who we are.
Where have you been comparing yourselves to others? What do you like most about how God has made you?
“Those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches— none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give God a ransom for him ...Don’t be afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; for when he dies he will carry nothing away."
Psalms 49:6-7, 15-17
Many advertisements will tell you how great it is to keep up with the Joneses. What do we get for all our efforts to look a certain way, have certain stuff, or fit in to popular culture? You get a world that more often than not feels alone and unseen because conformity has robbed the blessing of God given individuality. Where have you tried to fit in with culture?
“I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine."
Song of Solomon 6:3, 9
One of the most freeing changes you can make is to embrace that God's opinion is the only eternal opinion. It is the one that matters most and lifts you up. What does God want you to know? That you are uniquely and wonderfully made. You are made in the image of God and dearly loved as you are not as you might think you need to be. Have you asked God how He sees you?
“Before I was born the Lord called me; from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name...my reward is with my God...This is what the Lord says: “In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you ...say to the captives, ‘Come out,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!’...He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water. Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.”
Isaiah 49:1, 4-5, 8-10, 13
God knew you before you knew you. He knows every hair on your head, every muscle, bone and tendon. You are not too tall or too small. You are just as He made you to be. God wants you to live a life joyful life and learn how your joy can overflow to others. He also knows you will have tough times and fall short. What does He promise for those days? Compassion, restoration, and comfort.
“When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered him, “Master, we worked all night and caught nothing; but at your word I will let down the net.” When they had done this, they caught a great multitude of fish, and their net was breaking. But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord.” For he was amazed, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had caught; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will be catching people alive.” After these things he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and said to him, “Follow me!” He left everything, and rose up and followed him."
Luke 5:4-6, 8-10, 27-28, 30-32, 37
Learning to hear Jesus voice will change how you see yourself. Simon saw a fisherman and a sinner. Jesus called him a rock and great evangelist. Levi the tax collector was hated and all it took for him to choose to give his heart to Jesus was just to feel included, wanted, and loved. Both men were used greatly by Jesus to reach others and both experienced transformation. The truth is they had different strengths and Jesus met them with a different blessing to help unlock their understanding of how they could live a meaningful life.
What does Jesus call you? Are you willing to trade whatever you might think of yourself for your Kingdom identity so you can live out your Kingdom life that you were created to live? He knew you before you were born and calls you by name to learn who you are as you follow Him.