Reflections (Part 2): The Original You
original
Imagine setting out with the sole purpose of discovering what life’s all about. With all the wealth & wisdom ever needed, you accomplish anything you choose. You enjoy all that seems desirable, denying yourself nothing. Then after undergoing such an unbelievable experience, imagine coming away with the following conclusion:
“There is nothing new under the sun.” King Solomon, Ecclesiastes 1:9 (NIV)
That’s the conclusion that the “wisest man who ever lived” reached after completing such a quest. Inspiring? Not hardly. But there’s certainly a lot of truth to it. Admittedly, life can feel stale & incredibly repetitive, like there’s nothing new to be excited about. Nothing worthwhile to look forward to. Which makes King Solomon’s final conclusion all the more important.
At the end of his account (as recorded in Ecclesiastes), he leaves us with the realization that the best thing to do is “direct our attention to God, and to listen to what He says.” In other words, we have to elevate our perspective to truly find the things worth searching for.
Instead of looking outside ourselves for meaning, God directs us within. In Galatians 5, we’re told that“each of us is an original”. And why does that matter? Because originality represents authenticity. It means you’re not some carbon copy, you’re not just another number—
You’re an original creation of God.
Your reflection of God is uniquely your own. Which gives credence to the line, “you make a wonderful you but a lousy somebody else.” Embrace who you are in Christ. Embrace the fact that nobody else is designed to do what you can do. You’re an original. The question is—
what does god want to originate with you?
knowns & unknowns
Life is flooded with so many unknowns. Case in point, discovering what God’s purposes in our lives are. Often times, the best way to figure out what you don’t know, is to start with what you do know.
So let’s start there.
#1: YOU’RE INFLUENTIAL
The term “influence” has lost a lot of its’ meaning. Nowadays, something like your “social media presence” comes to mind. But genuine influence isn’t about an image, it’s about the—
power of your presence.
Influence is like a riddle when you stop & think about it. Because “it’s something everybody has, yet nobody knows what they have exactly”. Which is why it may be helpful to envision it from a different perspective.
If you were to picture yourself as being a “living billboard”, what advertisement would people see when they look at you? Are they directed towards things that matter? Like a healthy relationship with God & others. Or things that don’t last? Like an image or the endless pursuit of “stuff”.
Don’t overlook the impact of your influence. For better or worse, you’re leading those around you. And if you genuinely care about what direction they’re being led—
Watch where you’re leading Yourself.
#2: YOU’RE GIFTED
“If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.” Romans 12:8 (NLT)
It’s amazing to discover the rich depths of God’s gifts when we don’t put limits on them. The truth of the matter is, we’re gifted in more ways than we’ll ever recognize this side of heaven. And many of us are blind to one of the greatest gifts of all—
the gift of experience.
There are certain things we’ve gone through, so that somebody else won’t have to. There are mistakes we’ve made, which help us comfort those that have also messed up. Experiences come in all shapes and sizes. What seems common to you, could be life changing for somebody else. You have solutions that other people need. When you lend your lessons—
your life becomes a gift.
#3: YOU’RE INVALUABLE
We’re taught from a young age about the value of money & many other things in life. Why? Because if you don’t understand what something’s worth, you’ll waste it. The same is true as it relates to our influence, our gifts, and our lives overall. Matthew 20:28 (NLT) tell us:
“The Son of Man [Jesus] gave his life as a ransom for many.”
God willingly gave His only Son as a sacrifice for us, making it crystal clear that—
our value is incalculable.
Knowing your worth, makes life worthwhile. When you recognize that the highest price was paid for you, it puts everything else into perspective. The price has been paid-in-full, so that—
You can live a full life.
a splash of hope
“For a tree there is always hope. Chop it down and it still has a chance—its roots can put out fresh sprouts.
Even if its roots are old and gnarled, its stump long dormant, at the first whiff of water it comes to life…” Job 14:1-17 (MSG).
Maybe that’s you, maybe you feel chopped down. Maybe life’s struggles have caught up in a major way, and now you feel like a shell of “your former self”.
The good news is, Jesus told us that anybody that’s thirsting for more in life can come to Him. And that when you receive Him, “rivers of living water will flow from your heart”. You don’t have to regain your former self, because God has something more for you. Not a better you, but a new you. The real you.
The Original.
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today’s Takeaways
You’re an original creation of God.
When you lend your lessons, your life becomes a gift.
what does god want to originate with you?