I went with my daughter and her boyfriend to one of those painting classes. It is one where the teacher walks you through step by step how to paint a certain picture that she has created a model of already. There was another group of people who had joined the class as well, so there was about 11 of us in all painting this one particular picture, the same picture. You would think that all of us would come out with the exact same product, but what really happened was that we each created (12 in all including the instructor) a unique version of the same picture. Our color mixes we’re a little different, the number of leaves, the shapes of the leaves and the vines, the design for the beautiful fairy figure in the picture, and there were so many unique characteristics.

My daughter’s boyfriend had created flowers not leaves and they were a bit darker. His picture was more Halloween like. My daughter had beautiful thick vines with big leaves and a bright fairy. I had made the vines thinner with lots of leaves of all shapes and sizes. I had also outlined my fairy. Others made the fairy all white. Some painted her gold.  One even painted her dressed in a Ballerina Tutu. Every single picture turned out unique and beautiful in its own way.

We all received the exact same directions from the exact same instructor looking at the exact same model. Yet despite the similarity in our instructions, we all created a very different picture. Why? We are unique as individuals, and we see things a little differently than each other. We had different talents and abilities. We also put different amounts of effort in the various parts of the picture depending on what we thought was the most important. Some people really focused on the leaves while others focused on the fairy or the vines. The point is despite the similarity in the instruction we received and in the model we used to copy the design, the outcome was very different. 

The same principle of uniqueness in living out instructions applies in our walk with the Lord. The Bible, God’s word and instruction guide to us on how to live and walk out our faith, is the same Bible for all of us. We all have the same word and the same set of instructions to follow. We also all have the same model Jesus. We are to be like Christ, he is our example. The finished product if you will and a demonstration of how we should be and live. So, if we have the same instructions, God’s word, and we have the same model, Christ, then how is it that all of our walks of faith are a little different? After all, we had the same input, but the output is beautifully diverse. It is because of our uniqueness. We put more emphasis on different areas of the faith and this is based on our interest, our talents, and our experiences. We all have varied perspectives even while looking at the same thing.

For example, I may be focused on God’s faithfulness and living that out. You may be focused on God’s mercy and offering grace to others in need. You may be looking through the eyes of forgiveness towards others or you may be looking at peace that he restores to our souls and sharing that with others. These are all aspects of Christ likeness. We are not wrong. No, instead we are just focused differently. As it says in first Corinthians “now there are varieties of gifts but the same spirit; and there are varieties of service but the same Lord.” Or as it says in first Corinthians in a different portion of scripture” just as the body is one and has many members (unique members), And all members of the body, though many are one.” This uniqueness was God’s design and his plan. He did not want 12 identical pictures; he designed beauty in the variety we create as we walk out our faith. What an amazing thought! We are not wrong because of our differences; we are exactly as he made us to be unique. Even though we are all unique members, we are still unified in Christ as one body.

How amazing and marvelous God’s plan! That we have freedom to walk out our faith in the unique way God has called us to.  So, walk out your faith and work out your salvation with fear and trembling in your own unique way. In the end, each of our life stories will be beautiful in its uniqueness, each of our life’s paintings a masterpiece. Don’t keep looking at other people’s pictures to decide how yours should be, just look to Christ and his work and live out your faith accordingly. That was his plan and it is exactly the way Christ wanted it to be. He wants us to be more concerned with being like him and less concerned with being like each other.

This is a powerful unified uniqueness that leads to the same place for us all. It brings us to more of him and less of ourselves. In that beautiful unified uniqueness we shine the most brightly. Shining with our uniqueness to a world that’s just as diverse as we are. Do you think that’s why God did it this way? I think so. It turns out he did have a master plan. So I challenge you today to walk out your faith in the beautiful amazing, unified uniqueness he is creating out of you. Only you can be the you he created you to be, fully connected to him and to the rest of the body in Christ.