"For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not."
2 Corinthians 8:12
Even though I have read this chapter many times, this verse struck me today individually. It seems to say that if we're willing to serve God, God accepts who we are and what we bring to the table, and doesn't expect us to be someone else, or compare us with others. And I really love that message. Not that we shouldn't be learning and growing all the time, of course. But I think often we compare ourselves to what we observe in others, often to our own detriment. We don't see what they are really going through. We just see what they present to the world, and so we're comparing the reality of ourselves with the idealized versions of other people, and not giving ourselves much of a chance. And because of this comparison, we often give up before we try, thinking that we aren't good enough or strong enough. But when God accepts us, he accepts US, not other people, not some idealized version of who we *should* be. He accepts us, and knows exactly who we are better than we know ourselves. And he helps us to be more, and better, as we go.
Today, let's be willing to serve God as ourselves. Let's not let fears or comparisons get in the way. God wants to get to know us, to have *our* help with making the world a better place. We don't have to be bigger or stronger or different to make a difference. Just who we are, with our own strengths and weaknesses and our own relationship with God.
He loves us now... he isn't waiting for us to become someone else. Let's not wait to help him either.
2 Corinthians 8:12
Even though I have read this chapter many times, this verse struck me today individually. It seems to say that if we're willing to serve God, God accepts who we are and what we bring to the table, and doesn't expect us to be someone else, or compare us with others. And I really love that message. Not that we shouldn't be learning and growing all the time, of course. But I think often we compare ourselves to what we observe in others, often to our own detriment. We don't see what they are really going through. We just see what they present to the world, and so we're comparing the reality of ourselves with the idealized versions of other people, and not giving ourselves much of a chance. And because of this comparison, we often give up before we try, thinking that we aren't good enough or strong enough. But when God accepts us, he accepts US, not other people, not some idealized version of who we *should* be. He accepts us, and knows exactly who we are better than we know ourselves. And he helps us to be more, and better, as we go.
Today, let's be willing to serve God as ourselves. Let's not let fears or comparisons get in the way. God wants to get to know us, to have *our* help with making the world a better place. We don't have to be bigger or stronger or different to make a difference. Just who we are, with our own strengths and weaknesses and our own relationship with God.
He loves us now... he isn't waiting for us to become someone else. Let's not wait to help him either.
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