Unique!

Scripture:

Job 10:8-12 "You made me like a handcrafted piece of pottery-- and now are you going to smash me to pieces? (9) Don't you remember how beautifully you worked my clay? Will you reduce me now to a mud pie? (10) Oh, that marvel of conception as you stirred together semen and ovum-- (11) What a miracle of skin and bone, muscle and brain! (12) You gave me life itself, and incredible love. You watched and guarded every breath I took."

Observation:

One reason that Job was so distressed by what he perceived to be mistreatment by God was that he was certain that he was God's handiwork, as shown by our scripture for tooday. Job had a keen sense of the skill with which God had fashioned him in the womb.

Job's words sound a lot like David's in Psalm 139:13-16:

(13) Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb. (14) I thank you, High God--you're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration--what a creation! (15) You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. (16) Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day."

This speaks of God's intimate knowledge of each individual. He has that knowledge because He has created each individual from the womb. God knows us intimately because He owns us. He is like the inventor who carefully designs and builds a device and then becomes the owner of its patent.

People are not thrown together haphazardly, nor do they come together through random processes. Rather, God intentionally and masterfully creates human life in the womb. He works everything together into a whole according to His perfect will.

Application:

I am so thankful that I was not a "mistake". I didn't accidently come into existence. Nor did any human being. I don't care what the circumstances of conception are, each human being is special and unique, and God has a PLAN and PURPOSE for that individual.

A fundamental truth of Scripture is that God has created people in His image. Not only humanity in general, but every single individual! The same God whose mind and power fashioned the stars, the seas, the animals, and all other human beings has carefully, intentionally, and individually created me...and YOU.

That means:

1. You are UNIQUE! Even though you have many things in common with other people, You are one of a kind! No one else has been given the same makeup as God has given You. Your face, fingerprints, voice, and genetic makeup are matched by no one else's! God has handcrafted you with your personality, your unique set of talents and motivations, and your special "bent" in life.

2. You have a unique PURPOSE. Not only has God made you, but He has designed you for His special reasons. He has crafted you to carry out a unique purpose.

3. You have a RESPONSIBILITY TO YOUR CREATOR. God created you to live with Him and for Him. Ultimately, you belong to Him (Romans 14:7-8). Therefore, your life needs to center on Him. The great tragedy of many people is that they turn their backs on their creator and live for themselves. But everyone will give an account to the Lord for how they have lived their lives. He will ask whether or not they have used what He has given them to honor Him and fulfill His purposes.

Prayer:

"Lord, I thank you that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I am so thankful that I am not an accident. You put me together in my mother's womb. You made me unique, and gave me a purpose. Help me to always remember that because of this I have a responsibility to You, my Creator. I want to fulfill all of the potential that You put within my life. I know that you have a plan and a future for me. I once again affirm my dependence upon You, and my understanding and belief that I truly a special creation of Yours. I love you Lord, and I choose to walk in Your purpose and plan for my life today. In Jesus' name, amen!"

Blessings!

Pastor Rusty L. Blann