Devotionals

THE UNIQUE BRAND OF YOU

by Jason Barnett 
01/26/17
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Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I set you apart; I ordained you…” JEREMIAH 1:5 (NKJV)

“Christian” is the label placed on anyone who professes Jesus as Lord. This gains a person entrance into the Church, or the body of Christ. This body is made up of many different parts, with members being hands, feet, mouths, and any other piece of anatomy. All parts are necessary and rely on one another to function properly. Removing anyone of them hampers the quality of life, if not snuffing it out all together.

This teaching has been used to promote unity among believers, reminding us we are one. There is no question that this is a statement of truth. But when we combine this teaching along with the destructiveness of self (also known as the flesh), it can create the false belief that to be an individual is wrong. The uniqueness of a person is mislabeled as the sinful nature, and individual ability is mistaken for a path of division. While God created us all to be equal, he intentionally made us all different.

God spoke to the prophet Jeremiah, “before you were born I set you apart.” He was telling Jeremiah that he was calling him specifically. Jeremiah was not supposed to fulfill this mission the same way as Abraham, Moses, or any other person before him. As a matter of fact, it could be argued the skills of other leaders would not be as compatible as Jeremiah’s ability. The state of God’s people in that moment called exclusively for his voice.

The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah can also be applied to each one of us. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul writes, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.” God created you with your unique voice, talents, and vision to be used for His kingdom. Your community is groaning for the need of Christ’s love, and you have been set apart for that purpose.

Being uniquely you requires that you focus completely on Christ. You cannot look back to the old to find new, nor is life found in things that are dead. The work God has prepared for you is something that has never been done, distinctively original. Let the Holy Spirit unshackle you from the chains of conformity and renew your soul to the peculiarity of which you were created; then you will be able to answer God’s call.