Tuesday, May 6, 2025

New Testament Reading Plan: Acts 12

When you have a well-to-do aunt in New York and a privileged older cousin in the D.C. area, you might receive the benefits of their blessings by way of style. At least I did growing up! 

We’re talking about Coogi, Cross Colours, Karl Kani, and many other cultural brands. I fit in with the cool kids, but I also stood out because the other Findlay kids didn’t wear the same clothing I did. 

I thought material things mattered, so I began spending my earnings to maintain my style once I hit high school. Truthfully, I kept up appearances because I feared the other kids would know I was poor if I dressed like a kid whose mother resided in a nursing home and whose father took care of himself in another city. It’s a horrible way to think of yourself, but the compliments and being on the “cool kids” list freshman year, only fueled my wants. I thought name-brand clothing was the only way to measure up. 

In reality, the clothes never delivered the qualities of the man-in-training who remained hidden. They only masked what I saw in the mirror’s reflection: a quiet kid with a speech impediment and a scar on his right cheek, who was one of three black kids in a class of 438 students. 

Psalm 139:14
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous - how well I know it. 

A mirror doesn’t reflect God’s vision. It only shows you what you like and don’t like about yourself. It can’t reveal the bigger picture: God gave each of us unique qualities that make us his children. He calls us fearfully and wonderfully made, his masterpieces, created in his image. When we read the Bible, it allows us to understand God’s unwavering love for us and demonstrates how our physical sight fails in comparison to God’s spiritual specs.

Try taking the mirror outside. It will reflect God’s astounding beauty around you. As your eyes circle back, you’ll catch a glimpse of yourself and finally see the role you play in the world God created. It’s the measure of a man or a person’s spiritual growth that truly matters. 

You can find peace when you start to measure yourself according to God’s purpose for your life rather than by the expectations of others. 

Questions: 
Are you constantly measuring yourself against others? Why do you struggle to see yourself as God sees you?

Next Steps: 
Start viewing yourself differently by living in your purpose. Take or retake GrowthTrack to unlock your unique spiritual gifts. Apply those gifts to your life by serving and practicing your new skillset.

Prayer: 
Dear God, It doesn’t feel good when I view myself as less than others. Please teach me how to love myself as you love me. Help me grow in you so that I can share your love with family, friends, and strangers. Amen.

Series Theme Verse:
John 8:31-32
Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

This post was written by Jaron Camp, a Findlay attendee and regular contributor to the Daily LivingItOut.