I'm not sure why God laid this matter on my heart, but here goes nothing.
it's time to rebuke the spirit of comparison
Put a bunch of Christians together, mix it around, and you have a bunch of stumbling mumbling bumbling silliness going on. Division. It's brewing. I'd like to address it now, before launch.
Wherever you are with the Lord is different from where Sister Sue and Brother Bob are.
Some of us had the blessing of growing up in a Christian home, and some of us grew up with screaming fights, abuse, or abandoned.
Some of us experienced the Holy Spirit in different ways, while some of us got to see it for the first time in training camp.
Some of us have gifts, or different gifts, while some of us don't even know what ours are.
Some of us are ahead, some of us are behind.
Some of us are Bible-thumping little encyclopedias, while some of us are like "ummm I can do all things through Christ? Something like that, it's in there."
"Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be." 1 Cor 12:14-18
Just as you are. Wherever in the walk you are. A little on the confused side, even.
We are called to minister together as one body. United. Loving, appreciating, encouraging each other.
Some of us have already identified ourselves with the uncool parts of the body.
You may be the muffintop. Embrace that role. You are necessary.
"The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable" 1 Cor 12:21-22
We (the body) cannot function without you, awkward toe! Or you, double chin!
I'm making jokes but I'm dead serious. I had to learn this lesson the hard way when God put me in a church where I was definitely the pinky.
I was so overwhelmed with anxiety (everybody is married, with cute babies) because my life was different. I almost missed out on the blessing of being a pinky in the body.
In a blubbering cryfest, I sat with one of my mentors, who was the leader of the summer Bible studies. I said "Lauren, you are the whole arm, and I'm just a pinky!!!" And after much flailing and snot, I finally understood. I wasn't meant to be the same. I can't describe the freedom and the love I felt when I allowed myself to function without comparing myself to the Godly mommies and wifeys in the room with me. God blessed me SO much by putting me around those women, and look at how my church has supported and blessed me.
He's going to do the same in our teams, in our squads, in our lives.
Trust the Father. He knows what He's doing. He's putting us in a situation where we can sharpen each other. Learn from each other. Help each other.
We are going to learn about the mysteries of the Holy Spirit together.
It's not like Sam's Club, or some kind of underground society. We all have access to the Holy Spirit. We all will learn, with patience, more about it. A lot of us were never exposed to it before, and felt daunted by the gifts of the Spirit at camp. Please keep your heart and mind open, and keep praying for the Spirit to reveal Itself to you. Talk to somebody who has more experience.
But… don't compare. You go down that road, buddy, you're gonna regret it.
We are not supposed to judge each other, you who are strong in your walk. Be gracious with the baby Christians. They love Jesus with every ragged breath, and every mouthful of dirt, and every scar and scrape. They are learning, and they are indispensable. Invest in them. Pour into them right now, or they may not even make it to launch. We've had an E-Squad sister dream that many of us will not be at launch. Let it not be because we divided ourselves. Reach out now and make sure we don't lose any limbs. Do it soon. Like now.
We are not supposed to envy each other, you who look up to the stronger ones or the ones who have what you desire, and feel inadequate. You are part of the body. You do belong. I promise. Paul said so, because God says so. The body needs you, and every second you pull away is a small victory for the evil one. You don't have it all together. It's in Daddy's hands. Trust Him, He's doing amazing work in you, for HIS glory. We need you to get in the airplane. And do not isolate yourself. Find someone who you love, somebody who inspires you, to open up to. You need accountability, to confess your insecurities and have them rebuke them and speak life to you. And brother/sister, do it quick. Do it soon. Like now. Don't wait to start.
I rebuke the envy.
I rebuke the judgment.
I rebuke division in my World Race family.
I rebuke the spirit of comparison among my World Race family.
I declare that we are united, as one body, in our calling.
I declare that we will accept each other in humility.
I declare that we will have life spoken over us, and we will no longer be chained to insecurity.
I declare that we will get to launch as one body, and nobody will be left behind because of division or doubts, much less provision.
