Good morning! Have you ever looked at someone else and thought to yourself – I want to be more like that person?
When I was younger, it was all about the professional athletes; I wanted to “Be Like Mike,” the popular slogan for Michael Jordan commercials. I would pretend to pitch like Doc Gooden or Nolan Ryan, I would pretend to be soccer players like Roberto Baggio or Carlos Valderama. All of these players were playing the sports I loved at the highest level, I looked up to them!
Nowadays it’s more about worship leaders who lead from a place of experience – some sort of evidence that they have a thriving relationship with Jesus! Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes, Phil Wickham are a few of my all time favorites! Their love for Jesus is evident and they are fulfilling the call that God has placed on their lives – which is exactly what I am trying to do! They inspire me to continue using my gifts for Jesus!
There was a time when I wanted to be like them. But as much as I love their talent and the music they write, I now recognize that God has called me to be ME and no one else. He has created all of us with unique gifts and talents to be used for Him! If you are anything like me, you may be saying to yourself – I don’t have anything special to offer God – but that is a lie from the pit of hell!
“For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.”
1 Corinthians 1:5-7
If you don’t think you have anything to offer God, think again. Ask God to show you how you can use what He has gifted you with to bring glory and honor to Him and build others up!
I used to think that I have nothing to offer God, because I always thought there was someone else better. Many times this is true – someone else may be more talented than me at a particular task or skill – BUT, it doesn’t take away the effectiveness of using my gift for Jesus. When I give my all to Jesus, He takes it and makes it so much better – it’s not about what I can do, it’s all about what He can do through me!
Here’s an example from my everyday life. There are things that I am asked to do at my job that I feel so unqualified for: providing insight and feedback during meetings that I attend with others that ‘outrank’ me, presenting data in a way where it tells the whole story to someone who hasn’t been exposed to the process, or sometimes creating something out of nothing without being given a clear direction. I have had to learn to recognize my strengths (and weaknesses – like I have any LOL) and be confident in who I am BECAUSE OF CHRIST in me! Recognize the value that I bring to overcome the fear of not being as good as someone else!
The truth is, we are all the handiwork of our Creator and there is NO ONE in the world that is JUST LIKE YOU!
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Psalm 139:14
This doesn’t mean that we are better than anyone else – it means that we are different from each other and EVERYONE has something to offer God and each other! Through the years I have seen how God uses what I willingly lay down before Him and does something incredible that I never could have imagined.
Sometimes it is tough to not compare ourselves with others, but when we do this it is like comparing an apple with an orange – they are both fruits and they both have nutrients that our body needs but they were never meant to be like one another. We are all created by God and we all have gifts to edify the body of Christ but we were never meant to be exactly the same. Be comfortable being YOU – it is who God created you to be!
Heavenly Father, thank You for the people around us that inspire us to be better! Thank You for the gifts that You have given to each one of us! Help us to not get caught up trying to be someone we are not and instead be exactly who You created us to be! Use us for Your glory and help us to build one another up! In Jesus Name – AMEN!
Be Transformed 