“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood,
a dedicated nation, [God’s] own purchased, special people,
that you may set forth the wonderful deeds
and display the virtues and perfections of Him
Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
1 Peter 2:9 AMP
“What does ‘special’ mean?” my 7-year-old granddaughter asked when I called her for her birthday and told her how special she is.
I told her “awesome,” and she knew what that meant. But after I hung up, she really got me to thinking… What does “special” actually mean?
As I looked through dictionaries, I found several descriptions: especially important or loved, held in particular esteem, designed for a particular purpose or occasion, unique, extraordinary, exceptional.
And just think, God calls us His “own purchased, special people.” We are so special to Him that He even purchased us with His own blood. We are especially important to Him. We are especially loved by Him. We are especially designed by Him for a particular purpose. We are unique. No one else in this whole wide world can match the special importance He places on each of us.
I have such a short memory when it comes to remembering this. I often tell other people they’re special, and I sincerely believe it. But when it comes to myself, I don’t always believe it means me, too.
I don’t know if you’ve ever read the children’s story by Max Lucado – I Am Special. If you haven’t, I hope you will. It applies to us as adults, too.
The Wemmicks are small wooden people created by a wood carver, Eli. They’re always sticking either stars or ugly, gray dots on each other. The pretty and talented ones always get stars. But the ones who have chipped paint or can do little get the gray dots.
Punchinello was covered in ugly, gray dots and was really down on himself, but Eli helped him to feel better about himself no matter what the other Wemmicks may think. He tells him, “You are special because I made you and I don’t make mistakes.” It was hard at first for Punchinello to believe it, but Eli said, “The more you trust my love, the less you care about their stickers.”
Perhaps in your life you’ve been told you’re a mistake. Perhaps you are covered with negative labels others have thought of you, labels that cling to you like leeches. But to God you are no mistake. And no matter what others think of you, God cherishes you just as you are. You are special!
As Punchinello realized how special he was in his wood carver’s eyes and how much Eli loved him, the ugly, gray dots began to slide off. The more grounded we become in our Master Craftsman’s great love for us, the less we will care about the labels others have pinned on us. The more we see ourselves as He sees us, the more we will view ourselves as a loved, special, and beautiful creation with a specific purpose in God’s plan.
“You weren’t an accident. You weren’t mass produced.
You aren’t an assembly-line product.
You were deliberately planned, specifically gifted,
and lovingly positioned on the earth by the Master Craftsman.”
~ Max Lucado
Scripture Lullabies – Wonderfully Made (Hidden in My Heart)
Jesus, please help us to believe
how special we are to You!
Linking up with:
Holley – Coffee For Your Heart
Jennifer – Tell His Story
Kelly – Cheerleaders of Faith
Bonnie – Faith Barista’s Beloved Brews
. Holley Gerth writes a profound TRUTH:
Freed to Fly 