Unique Expressions

"You were sincerely sought because you are uniquely loved and are

a unique expression of God's love to others." Lisa Bevere, Without Rival

Until I read that sentence in Lisa's book, I never thought of myself as a unique expression of God's love to others. It's not a coincidence that I read that months after reading Ann Voskamp's The Broken Way and developed an understanding of exactly what it looks like to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Lisa's additional insight adds on an element I hadn't considered previously but now hope to embrace every opportunity I get.

When we think of all the ways God loves and expresses His love to us, I don't think we consider that we are a part of creatively displaying it to others. I think sometimes we just do what we're supposed to do because we know we are supposed to do it and are unaware that we do it differently than someone else would.

For example, perhaps your personal way of showing concern for someone is loving them well by praying with them in the moment. Your unique expression of God's concern for their needs and the reminder that they are never alone is different than someone who is more gifted by sending written words of affirmation that they can read and re-read as needed. Both let them know that God is with them and sees them, but the reminder comes in different forms.

So my question to you is this: how do you uniquely display God's love to others? What are your talents, natural inclinations, and abilities to be the hands and feet as only you can? Maybe your gifting is in your intuitive nature to let someone know you see them and asking them how they really are not how they say they are. It might be to lend a hand without being asked to remove some of the weight they are carrying and give them an extra moment of rest. And maybe it's as simple as realizing they need a loving touch and making them their favorite comfort food.

Whatever it is that you uniquely do, realize that God made you that way on purpose to express His love to others in a way that only you can. And while that expression will change based on the person, your creative acts will be received for what they truly are: the hands and feet of Jesus reaching out to love another in their need.

Lord, thank You for including us in Your plans to reach others. Open our eyes to the opportunities You set before us to be Your hands and feet. Help us to accept that there isn't a prescribed way to show Your love and that as we participate in Your mission, we are called to do it in the unique way You planned for us. We love You. Amen.