ORIGINAL INTENT

ORIGINAL INTENT

“Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. Jesus saith...Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.”

(Lk. 9:49-50)

One of my late wife’s favorite quotes was by Oswald Chambers, “Never try to make your experience a principle for others, but allow God to be as creative and original with others as He is with you.” Evidently the disciples, as we, had the problem of wanting all others to carry their stamp upon them. For them, to “do like” meant to “be like.”

But God is not in the Toy Soldier business, nor does He operate a Cookie Cutter Factory. It seems He creates then throws away the mold. You need not worry anyone ever showing up wearing a like garment as you; if they do, to be sure, it was made upon their own work table. Once the product is made, the pattern is discarded. The sign in the window reads, “Discontinued.”

To be sure, all of us from time to time need some rough places sanded, dangerous square corners rounded, and a little touch-up paint here and there in our lives; but this by no means takes away our individuality. Only the devil and those under him want us to be copycats, thus losing our divine given distinctiveness. What a blessing to be “ONE OF A KIND”! Ain’t nobody just like you.

"FUNCTION ACCORDING TO YOUR ABILITY!"

(rds)