Being Who You Are Acts 14:1a At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. Thoughts for Today: Eric Rees, the Pastor of Ministry at Saddleback Church, spoke at a recent Mens Breakfast I attended. His message was titled Only You Can Be You. He began with a quote from Eric Liddel the great 1924 Olympian, God made me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure. Eric followed with a scriptural reference from Galatians 6:4-5, saying Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Dont compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life. When I read our passage today I immediately thought about what Eric said that morning: Only You Can Be You. Paul and Barnabas werent trying to be anyone else but themselves. In fact, they (and Paul specifically) had been going into Jewish synagogues for years -- many times with disastrous results. If I was Pauls friend I would have said to him, Paul, why dont you soften or change your approach? It doesnt seem like youre making much progress, and besides going to synagogues can be down right dangerous. But Paul wouldnt have listened to me or anyone else. Why? Because he knew who he was (who God made him to be); he was clear on the work God had given him and had committed to doing it; he didnt compare himself to others; and he had taken responsibility for doing the best he could with the life and talents God had given him. No matter what people said, thought or did. What about you? How fulfilled is your life and life work? Questions to Ponder: When you get to heaven, God is not going to ask you why you werent more like Billy Graham, Chuck Smith, or your best friend (who might have a knack for evangelism or some other talent). Instead Hes going to ask you -- Why arent you more like the man I made you to be? Have you gotten into the habit of comparing yourself to other people? What about trying to be someone you are not? Who did God make you to be? Are you comfortable just being who God made you? Are you doing your creative best you can with your life?
Posted on: Fri, 01 Nov 2013 13:02:04 +0000
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