Day 302 "I Can't Be You!"

Passage: Acts 19:16

Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

Devotion:

Previously, the sons of the Jewish priest Sceva were guilty of invoking the words of Paul, rather than the person of Jesus. They didn't have the relationship or the experience--they just had a bunch of words: "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." As a result "the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding." I really like that visual because that's what always happens to me when I try to imitate someone else's ministry or relationship with Jesus--I get overpowered, beaten, and bloodied. I'm sure it's a familiar experience for most of us.

I think the familiar song verse is wrong as it shouts, "I gotta be me!" Rather, the right perspective is, "I can't be you!" If you try to copy someone else the results will usually be disastrous--much like the sons of Sceva from our passage today. If you want to get over-powered, beaten and bloodied--then try to be someone you are not. We can certainly learn from the example and teaching of others; however, if God wanted us to all be the same He would have given us identical hearts, characteristics and traits. Wouldn't that be boring? Our goal therefore should be to allow God to express Himself in the uniquely individual way He created each of us to be--to discover our own spiritual identity and giftedness, not emulate another's. We need to remember it is not as important to understand exactly how we are created differently--just that we are--and that it is not something we must strive for as much as will be revealed over time.

Questions to Ponder:

Have you discovered who you are uniquely in Christ? Look back over the last few months--at the things that have touched your heart and what you did about them. If you acted on the need that God expressed to you individually, you did so in a way that was unique--the way God intended and needed for you to respond. Take heart and have courage in the person God created you to be. What can you do today to express this truth?

?