Many times as people we wish that we had different attributes in life, and I will list some really quick:
Some people wish-
That they had the capacity to lead people
They could understand the Bible better
They could understand people better
They could give more compassion
They could be respected for some quality they don't have
The list could go on, but that gives the general jist of what capacities some people wish were different in their lives. Looking at this specific type of outlook in life, it becomes apparent that what this ides is really saying is that "I am not as good, and therefore as unique and special as [insert person here]}. This outlook is debilitating to many people because instead of focusing on the abilities that they do have, they choose to look at others and what they cannot change in themselves and get through life doing nothing. This outlook stops people from using what they do have to make a difference and instead brings them into the bondage of trying to match what other people have or do. What we need to realize is that we are not the benchmark (as humans and as peers, relatively speaking). How other people react is not indicative of nor a reflection of who we are. The exception to this could possibly be how children act because of how the parents are bringing them up, but for the most part, how others act is not a reflection of who we are and conversely vice versa. So why do we measure ourselves compared to others as often as we do? Why do we have this desire to be able to say "Ah, I am doing this like person is, so I...". This thinking, again, is indicative that we don't understand that we are all special people and we are different because we ARE special.
Today I challenge you to realize that you are very special, we all are. Lets look to the bible to understand this concept a little better. First turn to Romans 12:1-8-
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship.
2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,
5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.
7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;
8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
In this passage we see that we that the body of Christ is composed of different parts, each with its own purpose and goal in mind. To make it even more personal, think of it this way: Look at your own body, how wonderfully made and constructed. Look at your hands, what makes them special? They can grab things, manipulate them, write things. They can do many things, things that can change the world. Look at your feet now. They cannot write anything, nor can they move anything(as delicately at least) like your hands. But they can move the hands, they can get the hands within reach of what they need to do. They can accomplish movement that the arms generally cannot do. Now think about your ear, how they can perceive the most beautiful cry, the angriest rant, or the most broken heart weep. Your ears translate information into a form that you can understand. They can change your whole life based on some of the the sound waves you will hear. But your ears have no capacity to do anything other then that, they cannot move, they cannot write, they cannot do anything but hear. But they can do something that the other members cannot.
Now look at them together. For somethings to happen, all three are required. For example, say you hear a scream, and you see a building on fire. You could hear them scream all day, but if you did not have the different unique body parts, you would be powerless to do anything. But when they work in concert with eachother, you can hear a cry, run to the building and pull people from it.
Think what would happen if you hands decided to try and be an ear, or if your ears wanted to be feet. Nothing would be accomplished, and no one would get anywhere.
This same idea is the one behind everyone having different abilities and capacities. As we are all different people, we are different parts in this game of "life". We each have something different to offer and to bring into play that others don't. While many of us will share some more foundational basis and abilities, there will be points at which we realize that we are not as able or gifted as others and that we cannot do some things in life.
Strengths
All of us should rejoice in in our capacities, because we need to realize that they are sufficient to accomplish the will of God. In 1 Peter 4:10-1 it says " [10] Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. [11] If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever." God has provided you with strengths that you need, and strengths that when used, glorify God and give Him glory, and also shine a light that many people desperately need to see Jesus Christ. We are all responsible for what we do with out strengths, because God has given us the choice of serving Him or not... He uses an all volunteer army to achieve His goals. And God gives each of us different missions and strengths, in Luke 12:48 b it is seen that we are all gifted differently [From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.] God has given each of us different tools. Think of it this way: A painter brings in one of his paintings and tells His class to paint it as best as possible. Soon however, all realize that they have different colors. Some only have varying shades of blue pastels, some oil paints, and other have all the colors. One student with the pastels complains and starts wondering why they were not given a fair chance at creating the picture. The painter simply responds "I only asked you to paint with what I have given you, not compare to others and they and paint like they do. Copy me as best you can, that's the point". The plans that God has require God's resources. While the following statement might be a shocking statement, it is none the less very true: God has given you the abilities you need, not necessarily the ones that you want, because it is all about His glory, not ours...
Weaknesses
While we have all been created with strengths that require Jesus to unlock, we must also realize that we have been created with weaknesses that require Christ to overcome. Now, you might ask why we are created with weaknesses. If God wants to use us, why would He makes us weak so that we might fail at something? Because again, we need to realize that it is about His glory, not ours. In II Corinthians 12:9 God said to [us], "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore [we] will boast all the more gladly about [our] weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on [us]. We were created weak for a purpose, one being to show that we are not god, and two being to glorify Christ. When we as weak vessels see the power of CHrist rest on us and the weaknesses we have fail compared to the power of Christ, it is a testament to the salvation, the hope, the love, the grace and the mercy that we have in the fellowship and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It might shock some people to know that all that God does is for His own glory, for Him to do any other thing is idolatry. There is no equal to Christ, so for Him to give glory to anything is not only, illogical, it is also impossible. It is through these weaknesses that the power of Christ can shine through. In the power of Christ, you see men freed from lust and pornography, pride and the desire for money. Through the power Christ, you see men be men, leading families, loving wives, growing daughters and making men into boys. Through the power of God, we see men take captive and subdue the realms of darkness and the demonic strongholds in life. Naturally that will not occur, because ALL good things come from Christ and Christ alone. We are weak and naturally so, only through God can the power and capacity of a man be truly recognized. Through Christ, you see women serving their husbands, loving them in spite of their weaknesses. We see women, raising Godly children and building a godly home. We see women that are satisfied with what they have, with the husband that they have. Again, this naturally comes through the power of God, because He is the author and source of all good things.
Rejoice
My brothers and sisters in Christ, I want to leave you knowing that you see that you are indeed special, and even more so, unique. We all have different parts to play and have been given different gifts and God has called us to different specific, unique purposes, that as we draw closer to God, will be revealed to us. We have been given life, and not only that, more abundantly. We are given even more life and power with Christ; power to go above an beyond what the scope of human life can achieve. So remember that we are all one body, but many members, all with different abilities, responsibilities and obligations. We all have different capacities to praise and bring glory to Him, but abilities that we need to bring His glory and purpose in our lives to completion, unlocked through the power that He provides us all with. God has given us all the abilities that we need, no matter what we realize. These strengths are a testament to God's greatness. We also see that our weaknesses are God controlled as well.. Our weaknesses give us the ability to praise God like none other and each in our own unique way. These weaknesses have the ability to make us more like Christ because being specific to us, they require us to lean on Him to accomplish and grow through them and ultimately... make them into strengths. And with all our strengths and weaknesses, we can see and understand that we are all indeed, very, very unique!
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