“The best way to be somebody is to be yourself.” Wham! I love that quote. Often times, we are pressured by the social dynamics around us to be like this person or that person. Or, if we don’t reflect this quality or that quality, we haven’t arrived. Take all that stuff and throw it into the mental trash can. If there is one thing the Bible presents it is a multitude of different people, all used by God, all celebrated by those who knew them, all loved, especially by Jesus. I often use the phrase “cookie cutter Christians.” God is not looking for “cookie cutter Christians” but people who reflect the creativity he infuses into us through our different personalities, different gifts and talents, different life experiences and different ways of expression. His creativity comes out as we live in community with Him and each other. “The best way to be somebody is to be yourself.”
God’s word reminds us… "I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them." Psalm 139:14-16 (ESV) Each one of us made unique and special by design. “The best way to be somebody is to be yourself.”
I think the word “compliment” is very special to God as He forms His people. He creates us ideally, not to “compete” with each other but to “compliment” one another. His ideal is that we would come alongside one another and together build His ideal plan. “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV). Ideally, Christianity should be the greatest team sport going.
I want to declare this day as a day to celebrate. I don’t think we celebrate enough. Although we are in a time of social distancing, take the time today to thank God for who you are. You are special. You are unique. Please take time to celebrate that. We are all works in progress that God is shaping into the likeness of His Son (Philippians 1:6-7 NIV). And celebrate all the special, unique people that surround you. Celebrate, this day, how they enrich and complete your life. If you are trying to be somebody else, do yourself a favour and lay that aside. Instead, simply be yourself and celebrate it. I thank God you are who you are!
I like what a church sign says, “Take care of each other, share toilet paper and prayer.” As we share His love, let’s remember we do that by being “...who we are!”
God bless you, stay safe and take time to celebrate how special you are!
- Love Pastor Ralph
My father used to say it takes a bigger man to do something because he wants to do it than because the crowd wants him to do it. What you've written proves that.