God's Individual and Unique Work

Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing, be cleansed.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Matthew 8:1 NASB

A leper came to Jesus for healing. Jesus touched him and spoke and the leprosy was cleansed. A centurion came to Jesus on behalf of his paralyzed servant and Jesus merely spoke the word and his servant was healed. Peter’s mother-in-law was sick with a fever and Jesus touched her hand and the fever was gone. People brought many others to Jesus who were demon-possessed and Jesus cast out the spirits with His word. This all took place in the first 16 verses of Matthew 8. What a powerful example of the variety and uniqueness of Jesus’ healing ministry. Sometimes He spoke, sometimes He touched, sometimes He spoke and touched. Sometimes individuals came for themselves and other times they brought others in need of healing. The needs varied as well as the methods. Jesus was not limited to just one particular way of doing things.

So often we look at how God is working in an individual’s life today and we want the same thing done in us. We want the same methods used and the same picture when God is finished. But God sees us and deals with us as individuals. He is creative and distinguishing in the interactions with His children. No two people are exactly alike. There may be similarities but each possesses qualities, personalities, backgrounds, strengths, weaknesses, gifts, and relationships that are unique to them. The combinations and variety are astounding.

God has a special design on each life and because of that He will individualize His way of working in those lives. He determines the trials, blessings, hardships, events, and interactions of my life. The choice of tools is His. The finished product is His. Now I can either fight Him or cooperate. I can either squeeze myself into other molds or allow God to mold me. I can either wish for duplications of His other works or learn to joy in what He is doing in me and has planned for me. I choose cooperation over comparison. May I seek His choice for me!

Father, I am like no other child of Yours. Therefore I trust the way You are working, the tools You are using, and the results You are planning. I find comfort in the uniqueness, creativity, and distinctiveness of all You do! Amen.