Special Order

April 29, 2021

Pastor Ken Brown Jr

Hi, this is pastor Ken and these are my thoughts on a Thursday…Special Order Some of you know that I have five children and 13 grandchildren. I love all of them equally. I know this to be true because none of them could do anything to make me love them more. Conversely, there isn’t anything that any of them could get themselves into or be a part of that would cause me to love them any less. They can and have disappointed me at times, but never…ever have I loved them one iota less. Funny thing is that I enjoy each of them for the individual characteristics they have. When I spend time with my son for example, I know there are going to be things that are a part of our conversations and time together that I will enjoy immensely, but I would not enjoy those same things with one of my daughters. In fact, I would enjoy differing things with each of my daughters or any of my grandchildren. I love them all the same, but enjoy the variety of relationships I have with each of them because of their differences. Have you ever wondered why God made us all different from one another? Why are some of us introverts while others are extroverts? Why are some of us leaders and others followers? Why are some of us fun-loving while others are so serious all the time? Why are we all as different from one another as our identifying fingerprints are exclusive to each of us? God wants to have the unique relationship he can have only with you. Yes, He enjoys the one He has with me, and He loves the one He has with pastor Rick, but He also loves and longs for the one He can have especially with you. God’s word says that he has done this on purpose. Psalm 139:13 & 14 says; For you formed my inward parts; you covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made… These verses indicate that each of us, with all of our differences are all to be considered not only special but especially made…special ordered if you will. As of late there has been much ado made of learning not to notice the differences among us. While this is done under the guise of bringing about unity…unfortunately it serves to perpetuate an awful untruth. We are not all the same, we are different in a myriad of ways. We are not more or less valuable than one another, the same terrible high price was paid for us all, but we are purposefully made different from one another. We have each been created exactly as we are with great intent and by the Master’s perfectly thought out design. This Psalm, one of my favorites, begins by telling us how intently God pays attention to each of us. It states that He knows if we are standing up or lying down. It says He is aware if we are going out or coming in. I like the thought of that one especially because it means God knows if I am coming or going which is more than I can say for myself on some days! It goes on to speak of how He also knows our thoughts and what we will say, even before we do. One might be able to argue that this scripture only speaks of God’s omniscience and not of His targeted love for each of us except that verses 17 & 18 go on to say; How precious also are Your thoughts toward me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; let’s face it, God has made you just the way He wanted to, and He is crazy about you! You are the apple of His eye! The fact that He made you so different than He made me or anyone else, and that he pays such close attention to us, leaves no room for misunderstanding. He made you and I…all of us…special order. So don’t get caught up wanting the relationship He has with anyone else. Don’t fall for comparing your personal relationship with Him with someone else’s to determine its value. If God wanted cookie cutter relationships with His creation, we would all look, sound and act the same. The variety in people alone dispels that notion. Yes, there is some common ground we must all land on. He must be acknowledged as the only begotten Son of God. He must be recognized as the only way, the truth, and the life. Our knee must bow, our heart must confess that He and He alone is Lord. But the flavor of the relationship, the ways that we appreciate who He is. These are as different and varied as we are. Special relationships, specially ordered, as unique as our fingerprints. So now, running with abandon into the specially ordered relationship He wants to have with you…Go be awesome!