Mensa Otabil - Be What God Wants You to Be
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Second Corinthians chapter 10, verse 12: «For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves; but they, measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.» One of the challenges that everyone called by God faces is comparison-trying to be like somebody else, trying to make your life resemble someone else’s.
Can you imagine what would have happened if Moses wanted his calling to be like Abraham’s? You know, Abraham was called to leave his father’s house and never go back. Moses left his father’s house and was called to return to his father’s house. Two people called by God but in opposite directions, doing two different things. So, don’t compare what God calls you to do with what someone else is doing, because as long as you stay in the will of God for your life, that is where you experience God’s grace and where you experience God’s strength.
That is where God opens doors for you; that’s where you connect to His divine provision. But when you compare yourself with others and disregard the unique calling that God has for you, you lose God’s grace and must struggle on your own to be like somebody else. And who knows? You may even succeed in being a very successful copy, but there will be no fulfillment in your life, and there will be no joy in your life because your life is not serving the greater purpose that God has for you.
The purpose of God does not always imply that we’re going to do big things. The calling of God does not always mean you’ll be in the limelight, that you’ll be famous, or that you’ll be very popular. We live in a day and age of big dreams, big ambitions, big desires, and big projects. People are stepping out to do great things. We read about it in the news and on social media, all the wonderful things that people are accomplishing. However, we must never make the mistake of thinking that every call of God requires us to do something that will bring us into the limelight, make us popular, or make us famous. That’s not how it works.
Some people are called like John the Baptist. They are in the wilderness, and Jesus comes, and His ministry overtakes John the Baptist completely. Yet, John is equally called to do the work of God. Popularity, fame, riches, and wealth are not the signs of the call of God in your life. What truly makes your calling real is a sense of fulfillment, significance, joy, and the contribution you make in other people’s lives and in our world.
Therefore, there are people who will do things that differ from what you do, and God may call you to do something distinct from what everybody else is doing. Part of what God wants you to do may be like Aaron-utilizing the calling of Moses, responding to it, using the rod of Moses, and speaking based on the instructions Moses has given you, rather than having your own voice. Yet both are called by God.
So, don’t compare yourself with others; don’t let other people’s callings and their bragging drive you to pursue something comparable to them. By all means, what God wants you to do may indeed lead you to fame, fortune, and popularity; it’s possible. But that’s not a guarantee. The guarantee is that you are doing what brings you fulfillment and making a contribution within the will of God. May the Lord help you to find your own place in life and excel in it.
Let us pray. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, thank You for calling me to serve You with the gift You have given me. In Jesus' name, amen and amen.»