Uniqueness in My this and that

(Here is what I said last night when I spoke at the ladies’ event at my church. Perhaps someone here will find it encouraging.)

When it had first been suggested that I speak today, I laughed, shook my head aggressively, and insisted that wasn’t going to happen. But never say never, because you never know what the Lord has planned, and I’ve learned if God wants you to do something, it’s best to just do it instead of resisting. Chances are good he has something good for you on the other side of what he has called you to do.

So here I sit. As I was asking God what he wanted me to speak on, he said “Uniqueness” which is kind of silly, because for years I was sure there was nothing unique about my story, or even really about me.

I was reading my Bible the other day and I read Jeremiah 1:5-8 where God and Jeremiah, a prophet in the old testament, were having a conversation…

God says:

“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

“Oh Sovereign Lord,” I said (this is Jeremiah speaking) “I can’t speak for you! I am too young!”

The Lord replied, “DOn’t say ‘I’m too young’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken.”

So, I won’t be afraid and I will speak the words the Lord has laid on my heart.

I grew up hearing the testimonies and stories of others. When you hear a testimony in youth, or even in school, or at any major event where at testimony may be given, they are rarely bland. In fact often there is talk of major life changes such as a life saved from drug or alcohol abuse, a life restored from prostitution, the kind of I-was-almost-dead-but-for-the-grace-of-God story.

My story isn’t like that, at least not in the physical sense. I suppose any testimony with Christ in it would take us from death to life. My story is what I once thought boring. Here it is:

I was born to Christian parents, I grew up in a Christian home. My parents took me to church every Sunday, went to Sunday school, youth group, prayer meetings, bible studies, any and all youth retreats that were available. I lived for those youth retreats, they were my spiritual high. I went through normal teenage angst, but never really rebelled. I went to Bible school after high school, moved to the city, and after some searching found a church. For a bit I tried the “serving two masters” route, but quickly learned that wasn’t working and straightened myself out. I had accepted Christ as my personal saviour in sunday school at 7 years of age, rededicated my life at camp when I was about 11, was baptized at 16, and have always lived for God.

So that’s my story. Admirable MAYBE… inspiring, not so much.

But I am more than the sum of those few words! My mom used to tell me “You may be the only Jesus some people ever see.” And even now when I hear it, that strikes me. I live in a fight with my bad attitude. It is SO easy to slip into my grumpy pants and stomp around, scowling and being dissatisfied. But what kind of picture of Christ does that show to those around me who may not even know Christ, but know that I’m a Christian? How do the words I say sound to those around me? Even when I’m conversing with another Christian, what words am I saying, and what will those around me hear? Will they hear the love of Jesus through what I’m saying, or am I speaking negatively?

That’s a bit of an aside… something I’m still working on.

Despite my un-radical conversion story, I know my story is still important… it must be. In Matthew 10:29-31 it says,

“What is the price of two sparrows - one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

Do you think that if we were all the same we would be so valuable to God? Clones of each other, I imagine he could just say “that’s okay, I’ve got another one”. But that’s not how it is. God cares about each one of us and our unique story - all of it; our past our present and our future.

We do all have the same job as Christians, and that is to tell others about the love of the Father and the sacrifice of the Son. The best way to do that though is through our differences.

1 Peter 3:15 tells us,

“And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.”

We all have come to know Christ in different ways. A relationship with him is a very personal thing - because of this we each have a different story and a different way of sharing God’s love with those around us.

At one point when I was single, and complaining to my mom about it, she asked “What if you are in a unique position to witness to someone now, that you may not have had the opportunity to witness to if you were married.” Well, she said something like that, and that’s what I heard. And it kind of shocked me. That’s true. Single people have unique opportunities to do things that perhaps married people aren’t in the position to do. That’s when I finally gave my life to God. I told him that from now on I’m doing everything I can for the kingdom as a single person. I wanted to be effective where I was in life, no matter where that was. And I didn’t want to miss anymore opportunities just because I wasn’t happy with my situation. I’ve taken that into the rest of my life.

And these unique opportunities are everywhere: A mom may have opportunities while at a play date to reach out to other moms. Or even taking into account where you work… maybe you’ve been able to develop a relationship with a coworker that you otherwise wouldn’t have met.

We are all unique, we’ve been through some of the same experiences as one another, but we are different people so we react differently, or learn different lessons in each situation. We also each have unique situations in our lives. Let us stop thinking that we can’t be effective. It’s not just “little ol’ me”… it’s “Little old me and BIG God” And together we are pretty much unstoppable.

As some of you who know me know, I’m not healthy. Oh, I strive to be by eating well and trying to stay active when I can, but I do have a lung condition, and recently it’s flared up, causing me to have to change a few things about my lifestyle. It takes me to the hospital a bit more to try to really sort out what’s wrong, and though I am definitely praying for healing I’m also searching for opportunities to share God’s love with people I come into contact with that I wouldn’t otherwise meet if I wasn’t sick. This isn’t necessarily a negative thing if I get to share my faith with others, if I get to show others some of who Jesus is. This opportunity is a unique one in my life, and I want to seize it.

You’ve heard it said, we are each on a journey in life… and that’s true. Isn’t it interesting looking back and seeing where we have been, where we are, and where we are going… often a culmination of different opportunities and decisions we’ve made in our lives.

As Christians we’re on a journey to heaven. And it’s exciting because we each get to look for opportunities to bring others along on this journey, or help them get started on it, and we need to keep our eyes wide open. We need to be praying that God would cause our hearts to be oh-so-sensitived to his promptings. I sure don’t want to miss any opportunity I have to reach out to someone with God’s love, that perhaps no other Christian has the opportunity to reach out to.

So I just want to encourage you to remember Jeremiah, and what God said to him, “Don’t say “I’m too young.”

How many times do we have that same conversation with God? We are not all called to be prophets like Jeremiah, but God has given us each gifts and talents, and we are called to develop spiritual gifts as well. How often do we find ourselves saying, “But God…“

But God, I’m too shy. But God, I’m too busy. But God, that other person would do a better job than me (Even Moses said that one).

Despite what we THINK our shortcomings are, God can cover them all and when he places you in a position to do something for the kingdom, he put you there for a reason. He could have chosen anyone to that job - your sister, your pastor, your best friend - but he chose YOU to be in that place at that time. So lets always be ready to share Christ in our own unique way.