November 06, 2012
Transformational Thought
You hear this line all the time: “Every one of us is special.” We’ve been told this by our parents, grandparents, romantic interests, aunts, best friends, Sunday School teachers, pastors and priests at church … and of course by all those self-help books, and gurus like Oprah, Tony Robbins, and Dr. Oz.
Yes, we all have different fingerprints and DNA, unique brain chemistry, and so on. But does this really make each of us “special?” For most of my life I was very cynical about spiritual clichés like this. As I began to dig in and understand Christianity better, I realized that, yes, we are special as individuals. We are unique. Every one of us has extraordinary dignity simply because we are children of God, made in His image and likeness, and redeemed by God’s Son, Jesus.
Another way to envision it is by thinking we are not just human beings. Rather we are wonderfully designed keys … keys that God has individually crafted to fit certain locks. You are special because the lock you are called to open will accept only one key – a key that looks distinctive and acts differently; one that has emotions, passions, skills and shortcomings that are different from any other key. Because of these differences, the individual lock is also a wonderful and uniquely designed life crafted by God and available to only one key, YOU!
Remember, in the entire world there has only been one key that has the ability to open this one particular lock … and you are that key. The lock could be anything … something big or something small … something quiet or something loud. It could be that your son or daughter is destined to do something spectacular that could not have been done without your influence. Whatever the lock may be, one thing is sure. It will be profoundly important to God and this world, and immensely fulfilling to you personally.
Unfortunately, we waste much of our life and time on trying to fit into the many counterfeit locks Satan has devised to divert us away from the one that is a perfect fit. I know I tried to live lives that weren’t designed for me, but that I thought would make me more popular, accepted, in control, loved, secure, better off, and so on. Trying those locks hurt. I was trying to jam my key into the wrong lock. It never fit. Once I found my real fit in Christ and followed His leading, my life became much more comfortable. Because it is a perfect fit I’m not overwhelmed. I’m at peace.
Today, acknowledge that God has designed the perfect lock for you. Start by taking inventory of the experiences, talents, interests, contacts, and passions that stand out for you personally. Identify one person with whom you can start to discuss these puzzle pieces, a person who might help you put them together to identify God’s customized lock for you. Also, identify one area of your life that is not a fit for you. Make a plan to turn away from it. You, like me, might have past wounds or mistakes that God allowed for a special purpose. Start to prayerfully mix them together as you confide in others to see what special locks God wants you to open up. Which lock you put your key into is your decision, so choose well.
Prayer
Dear Father God, I thank You, Father, for saying yes to my existence. I took me so long to figure out what my lock looked like. I am glad I am looking through Your eyes more often as it makes finding my lock so much easier. I do believe, Lord, that You made me as a key. Help me continue to find the locks that You created for me to open. Help me find a way to communicate to others just how special they are simply because they are Your children. I pray in the name of the Ultimate Key to the multiverse, Jesus; and all God’s children say – Amen!
The Truth
For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. Psalm 139:13
His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ Matthew 25:21