You are NOT Ordinary

Like many young boys I knew, I grew up wishing I were a superhero. Unlike those other boys, my imagination was far more detailed and all-consuming.

My penchant for daydreaming earned me the nickname of “Martian” in elementary school – even the teachers called me that – because I was “always in outer space.”  My fantasy of choice was that a huge storm was bearing down on our school. I would imagine the teacher in front of me, but in my mind – as she was attempting to teach – waters rose up around her ankles, her waist, her shoulder – somehow unaware of the danger that was overtaking her.  I – in my minds eye – would then begin swimming each of the students in my class to safety, one-by-one, until the teacher – in real life – would call on me, and I would be at an absolute loss as to what she had been talking about.  “In outer-space again, Martian?”, and the whole class would giggle.  Even to this day, my favorite movies are Captain America, the Avengers, & Lord of the Rings – give me a hero with special abilities and an incredible call on his or her life and I am IN!

However, life feels so normal – so average – so day-to-day, pushing against the crowd, trying to make something happen.  Is there anything special about that?

Then I look at Jesus. Hebrews 4:15 says that Jesus was “… tempted in every way, just as we are…” That sounds pretty raw & human to me.  We are far to prone to imagine Jesus as an all-powerful God – some sort of Superman walking around waiting for the moment he can jump into a phone booth & don his superhero costume, & prove his power.  But that’s not the Jesus I see in the Word.  We too easily forget where Paul tells us in the book of Philippians that Jesus, who was God, set his God-qualities aside, “…taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.“  Jesus – “God with Skin On”, as I like to call him – was REALLY a man… he wasn’t just God pretending to be a man, prepared to pull the God-card whenever injustice abounds. But do mere men – on their own – know the future? Know other’s thoughts? Have any of you – of your own willpower – miraculously healed the sick, or raised the dead?

Jesus was NOT alone.

All of the Gospels tell the same story: when Jesus was baptized by his cousin John something amazing happened – “the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”  Luke later adds that, immediately following this, “And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness…”

Jesus, “God with Skin On” – God AS man, was not alone – he was filled & empowered by the Holy Spirit.

So, what does that mean for me?

First, does God have a call on your life?  God called Abraham, Moses, Samuel, David, Esther, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, Jesus, and Paul – just to give a few Biblical examples – and each one of them were not merely called to BE GOD’S, but were called to fulfill a specific purpose in God’s plan.  God is a God who CALLS. If you’re a believer, God’s general call is made clear through-out the Scriptures, “to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”  This is a general call of God on EVERYONE who calls themselves “Christian”.  But each of us are unique:  what has God called you to?

Second, there is only one way you will choose to effectively pursue fulfilling God’s call: a desire to please the Father.  Granted, your desire to please God isn’t perfect – Jesus’ was – that’s the benefit to being born the sinless son of God.  Adam and Jesus were the only two people ever on earth who’s decisions were not marred or influenced by inborn sin, but still – as imperfect as it may be, as believers we still desire to serve God.

And lastly, if you have truly given your life to Christ, you ARE filled with God’s Spirit, and it is only through the Holy Spirit’s power that you will be able to accomplish what God has called you to.

So, though in your personal identity there may be a worlds difference between you and Jesus, in this sense – as a Spirit-empowered man – you and Jesus are not THAT different.  Jesus is quoted in John 14:12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do”.  Do you believe it? So, what is our excuse?  What is your excuse?

God has called you, you desire to please Him, and He’s filled You with His Spirit!  Even on the most normal day, You are far from ordinary – you are God’s son or daughter – a prince or princess of the most High King of the Universe.  You can accomplish awesome things, not because you are awesome, but because He is, and He is IN YOU…

This is the theme of my life right now: I want to live out His Kingdom NOW…

“Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven”

What special call have you grown to see that God is putting on your life? What steps are you taking to walk in it? Please share your thoughts below – I’d love to hear from you!