Psalm 139:13-16 — For You formed my inward parts. You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. 

Every single one of us is a unique person formed by God. That word “wonderfully made” in the Hebrew means to be distinct, marked out, be separated, be distinguished.

Everyone has their own individual fingerprints, voice prints, and DNA. Even identical twins, who share DNA, still have different fingerprints, voice prints, and different personalities.

Think of all the billions of people on the earth today and even the billions that have lived on the earth in the past and not one is like you. You were made in the image and likeness of God, fashioned by Him, and given your own unique path (derek in Hebrew) to walk. 

The Trap of Comparison 

So why do we compare ourselves to others and want to be like them? 

Have you ever said things like:

“I wish I could preach like Pastor Larry.”

“I wish I knew the Scriptures like Mark Gerriets.”

“I wish I had hair, body type, and personality like _______.”

The Bible warns us it is not wise to compare yourself to others:

2 Corinthians 10:12 — For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

You Have a Place in the Body 

We need to be ourselves the way God created us, and we need to know that we are all important and have our place in the body of Christ. 

I Corinthians 12:14-21 — For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body?” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”, nor again the head to the feet,” I have no need of you.” 

We need each other.

Mary, Martha…and Me

I am a pretty efficient person, and I have always been able to get a lot of things done in a short amount of time. I pretty much do everything quickly. I like to be busy. 

The story of Martha and Mary in the Gospels has always bothered me—I think because I identify with Martha. Everybody preaches about how Mary has chosen the better way, and we should be like Mary. 

I think Martha was having a bad day. Have you ever had a bad day? I think Jesus was rebuking her for her attitude toward her sister. I think Martha could have grabbed a pan of potatoes and sat on the floor next to Mary and listened to the Master while she peeled potatoes.

Have you ever talked to God while doing something—like washing dishes or driving a car? I have. However, don’t get me wrong, we do need time where we get alone with God. Martha’s heart was wrong that day. I am sure after that correction, Martha sat at the feet of Jesus like Mary. I would have dropped everything and apologized to Mary and Jesus and sat down and listened to Jesus.

God Sees the Heart

I Samuel 16:7 — But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 

Sometimes we admire people for their physical characteristics — but if we saw their inner man like God does, we really would not want to be like them. 

I remember a time when I was pretty mad at my dad over a decision he made that I was totally against. I was complaining and I heard the Lord’s rebuke (sheket in Hebrew). “Be quiet, I see his heart.” Looking back, I can see that it was a wise decision, and I am so glad my dad made it.

Back to Mary and Martha. I have prayed and said to the Lord many times, “I want to be a Mary and not a Martha." And just recently I heard the Lord say, “I want you to be SHARON.” Oh wow, I no longer say I want to be a Mary.

BE WHO GOD CREATED YOU TO BE!!! YOU ARE THE ONLY YOU ON THIS EARTH!!!