Why the Called Can Get off the Crazy Train of Comparison (Part 3 of 4)
We were driving through the beautiful rockies and I was taking in the view. Yes, there were similarities between the evergreens that populated the sides of the highway, but as I stared more closely it became apparent that no two were exactly alike.
And this was just one breed of trees. If there was that much variety in just one breed (nevermind the vast variety when you add fruit trees, palm trees or flower trees) how creative must our creator be?
But what might happen if instead of experiencing the beauty, creativity and variety, I evaluated it? Here’s why this tree is better than that one. Or, here’s why this tree is less important than the other. I would surely feel the joy drain out of my system as I put God’s good work on trial.
This is what comparison does— deceives us into evaluating what God has put within us, rather than experiencing it. It’s like holding up apples and oranges to one another thinking that there’s some sort of competition for best fruit when in actuality, we can appreciate the different purpose each has to fulfill.
Remember, you and I have a unique calling set before us to run in, not a comparison competition to claw in. And not only that, but this unique calling is given to you by an abundantly creative God.
We live in a culture that continually tries to make us the center of our own worlds. But we are not the center of our calling, nor the source of power that fuels it. As Jesus said, He is the vine, the source and we are the branches meant to live in connection to Him to fulfill our calling.
It is the capacity of our abundantly creative God that calls us in the first place and makes it possible for us to continue fulfilling it.
How exactly do we begin to uncover the unique calling we have been given by our abundantly creative God?
We need a clear "gold" to guide us towards clear goals.
So, what is our gold? As we are running our own races, in our own lanes, at our own pace, fulfilling the call given to us by our creative God, we need to know why we are running.
If not, it's unlikely that you and I will stay the course with the same discipline and self-control of a competing athlete. Paul (the inspired writer of both of today's passages), says our gold is the imperishable crown, and in his letter to the Philippians he further explained his gold was knowing Christ.
"Now every athlete who [goes into training and] competes in the games is disciplined and exercises self-control in all things. They do it to win a crown that withers, but we [do it to receive] an imperishable [crown that cannot wither]." (1 Corinthians 9:25, AMP)
"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. (Philippians 3:10-12, NIV '84)
There is no separation between you fulfilling your callings and getting to know Jesus on an intimate level. There is a way your life puts God on display for His glory as we know Him.
There are ways you’ll know Him by experience because of your specific weaknesses, pain points and brokenness. He wove together your personality with strengths that reflect Him, and with weaknesses that would need to receive Him. He gave you passions that would drive you and passivity that would require you to need the strength of others in His body. He gave you life experiences and God-encounters. And He wove all of this together in a way that would reflect Him to the world completely uniquely.
As your belief system begins to change, I have a unique calling, let it be further faith-fuelled by the truth that it has been given to you by an abundantly creative God who wants to be known by you.
Take a few moments today to ask God to show you what is unique about your lane. What are the unique ways He desires to make Himself known to the world through you? Put on your shoes today and run your race — eyes on the prize (Jesus), in your own lane, and at your pace. And remember, you are free to invite others to do the same.