I Don’t Want to Be Like Them

 

First, there’s Bill Swan. The man who runs this whole crazy operation called the World Race. This guy is brimming with wisdom about values, goals and vision. He challenged us to write a vision statement, clarify our values, choose our priorities, and be proactive about our dreams.

 

 

Then there’s Travis Bonning. This guy talked about dating relationships and was an amazing emulation of what it looks like to actually LIVE a biblical marriage. He made me actually believe that the idea of marriage fed to us by culture could change if we live the example of Christ’s love in our dating relationships.

 

 

Oh, and Ashlin. I’ve never seen someone speak more passionately about an analogy. She drove here from Asheville and got a flat tire on the way and somehow she connected that all into our intimacy with the Lord. And she did it all with an awesome Southern accent. She is all about the prophetic gift and she uses that with power.

 

 

Then there’s Teresa. Lord have mercy, this lady brought the house down. I have never seen someone with a more passionate gift for evangelism. She has spent weeks living as a homeless person to share the Gospel with that community. Every person she meets, she asks “Do you know about Jesus?” She does not play by the rules because the rules don’t apply when eternity is on the line.

 

 

 

Here’s the truth:

When I heard them speak,

 

 

We all look at these people standing up there speaking and think that these are the superheroes, the rockstars of God’s kingdom, the people who make history. 

 

 

I realized that when I was wanting to be like all of them — to have the vision of Bill, the biblical marriage of Travis, the prophetic gifts of Ashlin, the love for evangelism of Teresa — I was really just wanting to be like them in one thing, which they all had:

 

These people are passionate because they are deeply assured of the gifts that God has for them. These people are Spirit-filled because they are deeply assured of the Holy Spirit’s power working through them. These people are deeply intimate with the Lord, and they are deeply assured of their identity in Him. These people are focused on their calling, and they are deeply assured of their place in the kingdom.

 

So going to Project Searchlight, you might meet a bunch of people you want to be like.

 

 

 

 

Your lane might be being a missionary or running a business. It might be evangelizing on the streets or discipling high school women. It might be praying for healing for people or helping people manage their money well. Pick a lane and run hard — and don’t look at what other people are doing. Because other people are counting on you to finish your lap, and you can’t get distracted with wanting to be like everyone else.