Be Yourself

Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.

Galatians 6:5

 

I like "Forrest Gump."  It's a story of a person, who is a little socially slow, struggling through life.  My favorite part of the movie was when Forrest joined the Army.  His Drill Sergeant would yell and holler and Forrest seemed to fit right in that environment.  He polished his boots faster than anyone, he disassembled and reassembled his weapon faster than anyone, and he even cleaned the floor with his toothbrush without so much as batting his eye.  Forrest found his niche.

Forrest had to learn how to be himself as he encountered situations which he found odd.  For example, when he drank all those Dr. Peppers at the Presidential Receptions he had to decide how to be himself.  And he learned that from his Momma telling him not to "put on airs."

 

God reminds us every single day that HE created us on purpose, for a purpose, and uniquely gifted for that purpose.  God reminds us that we are to be who HE made us.  Does that mean we'll get it right every time?  Nope!  From personal experience, I can tell you that I don't get it right more times than not, but I do try very hard!  This is why God has provided Grace, Mercy and Forgiveness.  The three "sisters" if you will.  

 

My job is to be the best ME I can be.  God's job is to fulfill His purpose for me!  It's really just that simple!

 

"I'm Better Than You!"

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

~Matthew 6:5-6

I admit it, I have never been what one might consider "a stand out".  I wasn't an exceptional athlete.  In fact, I have the distinction of being so "graceful" that I actually fell up a tree from across the yard (the insurance representative had to have it explained numerous times).  I tried and wanted so much to be the best at something, yet every time there was always someone better.   

You see, I had become entangled in the game of "Measuring Up" whereby I would compare myself to others and when someone was better than me at something, I would be discouraged, frustrated, and didn't want to do that activity anymore.  

We compare ourselves to other all the time, don't we?  

"Am I best looking one here?" 

"Do my clothes look the best?"  

"Am I driving the nicest car?"  

"Is my job the most impressive?"

"Do I have enough degrees from the right colleges?"

"Do I have the best resume?"

All the superficial things that don't really matter!  We become like the hypocrites Jesus told us NOT to become.  We want people to look at us, hear us, envy us!  And we get annoyed if that doesn't happen.  Because, after all, what others think is most important.....right?  I'm not talking about the occasional recognition.  That keeps us motivated to push on to do better.  I'm talking about those who strive so hard to be publicly known and envied. Look at what Jesus says about such people, "That is ALL the reward they will ever get." Their brief time in the spotlight is all the reward they will ever get.

Here's a Point To Ponder: God loves you!  He loves the you that He created!  You cannot earn anymore of His love my being in the spotlight.  All of our trophies, certificates, degrees, and awards will not cause God to love us even the slightest bit more. You cannot lost any of His love when the spotlight is off you. If you fail at every single thing you ever attempt, God still loves you enough to have sent Jesus to die in your place.  

Jesus didn't call us to be a superstar...He called us to be servants!

 In God's family, all of His children are His favorites!