Eternally Unique
As Christians, we all strive to be like Christ, yet we retain our individuality. We long for the character of Jesus to be revealed in our lives, yet we are never stripped of our eternal uniqueness.
With Christ as our example,
- 1 Peter 2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
as we progress towards attaining the standard He lived out and requires of us,
- Ephesians 4:13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
and knowing that one day we will be like Him;
- 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
it is amazing just how different we are all!
- Psalm 139:14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
It is very unfortunate, that in our fallen human nature we are typically drawn more closely to those who are similar to us (in appearance, interests, status, etc.). In God’s infinite wisdom and glory, He allows the indwelling presence and leading of Christ to be lived out without distinction by race, nationality, occupation, economic status, gender, personality type…
- Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Each Christian is adopted into God’s family by His grace, through the faith He has given us, not by what we do (Ephesians 2:8-9). We are depriving ourselves of tremendous blessings by not fellowshipping more openly with our brothers and sisters in Christ, regardless of how different they may appear to us. God will judge with impartiality. Why don’t we try it His way?
- Psalm 98:7-9 Let the sea roar, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell in it; 8 Let the rivers clap their hands; Let the hills be joyful together before the Lord, 9 For He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, And the peoples with equity.
So why not start enjoying the diversity in God’s family? If you look past the surface, you will see Christ in each of God’s children!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, please forgive my prejudicial preferences, my closed mindedness, and my tendency to sometimes only associate closely with those who I am comfortable with. I am sorry for not making the effort more often to get to know my brothers and sisters in Christ better and for not always watching to see how you are revealing Yourself in and through them. May Your Word and Your Spirit help me to see others how You see them. In Christ’s name I pray, Amen.
