Gtcotr/ss031410
God created mankind in His image and likeness. He is our Father and we are His children. He made each one of us special, with special gifts and special abilities for a special purpose which He designed.
No other person is exactly like you. You were born with potential – the potential to be everything God created you to be. You were created for purpose and will be given every opportunity to accomplish that purpose.
There is something which you can do better than anyone else in your world. You are the perfect candidate to be you! No one else has the combination to your soul and the potential you possess.
You might say, “I’m not perfect! There are so many things I just cannot do.”
You are partly right – you are not perfect, except for the purpose to which God designed. You might be a complete failure at being anyone else but you. And the things which make you so sharp in one area of life may actually make you dull in other areas. However, we can all do the basics.
The two keys to being the best you are:
1. Do the basics first
2. Then stick to the plan of God for your life
If you will just do the basics of life and become great in your ordinary, God will then give you extra-ordinary opportunities to reach your greatest potential. Don’t get these two steps out of order or you will quickly find out that life out of order does not work.
Life out of order will be frustrating and will most often end up cycling through failure after failure. What do I mean by a life out of order?
Life is out of order when a person attempts to reach their potential but refuses to embrace the basic, ordinary, everyday activities and attitudes a successful life demands. Jesus put it this way: (Matthew 16:26)
Matthew 16:26 "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”
… or his family for that matter!
It’s the basic priorities of life. You see … There is nothing wrong with you that getting right with God won’t fix.
I didn’t say “other people”, I didn’t even say “us” … I said you!
Sometimes it is not about you, but sometimes it is! Only you can reach your greatest potential.
Reaching your greatest potential will demand that you first conquer the basics. What are the basics for you? They are the same for everyone.
1 Peter 2 NKJV
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,
12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
13 ¶ Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme,
16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.
Note: Verses 11-16 encourage us to watch our conduct in life. These verses are summed up in verse 17:
17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
The Holy Spirit continues encouraging believers to live the basics by speaking specifically to servants, wives, husbands and everyone in general as the thought is developed. These admonitions are the basics ---
18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.
1 Peter 3
1 ¶ Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives,
7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
8 ¶ Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;
So, what is the conclusion of today’s message?
1. You were perfectly designed by God with dynamic potential.
2. The keys to being the best you are to do the basics and then stick to the plan of God for your life.
3. There is nothing wrong with you that getting right with God won’t fix.
