Lately I’ve been being pressured to feel, think, act, do, be, and work like everyone else. I literally actually had someone tell me that there is only one way to connect with God and that way is to read the Bible. Now don’t read too much into this, I love reading the Bible and God teaches me so much through it. But there are tons of ways to see, love, experience, communicate, and be in God’s presence.
The same methods will not produce the same growth in everyone. They just won’t. It’s not how God made us. What would grow an orchid would drown a cactus. What would feed a mouse would starve a elephant. There are certain similarities: they all need light, food, air, and water…but in different amounts and conditions. God treats and helps us all in unique ways because He always knows just what each person needs.
He had Abraham take a walk, Elijah take a nap, Joshua take a leap. He gave Moses a forty-year timeout, David a harp and a dance, Paul a pen and a scroll. He wrestled with Jacob, argued with Job, whispered to Elijah, warned Cain, and comforted Hagar. He gave Aaron an alter, Miriam a song, Gideon a fleece, Peter a name, and Elisha a mantle. Jesus was stern with the rich young ruler, tender with the woman caught in adultery, patient with the disciples, blistering with the scribes, gentle with the children, and gracious with the theif on the cross.
God does not do “one-size-fits-all.” Instead, his desire is to run billions of plans and adventures around the globe for each person. Spiritual growth is hand-crafted, not mass-produced. He is watching to see how full of His spirit this man or this woman can be.
When Jesus prayed for his disciples, he did not pray, “May they all have identical hearts and lives.” No, he prayed, “Father, may they be one with you” (see John 17:11).
Challenge: When we take someone under our wing to help guide them towards Jesus, Teach them how to be more like JESUS…not ourselves. If we are all different parts of the body of Christ then lets allow the hand to do what the hand is meant to do instead of trying to make it an ear or a mouth.
