You're The Best!

The Lord promised me long ago that I’d be the best Debbie Corum He ever made. With an affirmation like that from Someone so beyond all comparison, how could I not challenge my existing parameters and dream outside the box? The possibilities of what God could do with the likes of me were as limitless as His ability to do over and above all I could ever ask or think or imagine. And I imagined big, conjuring up all kinds of grandiose pictures and scenarios of what my best might look like in action. We’re talking a faith filled, power packed, bold as a lion, soul-winner extraordinaire.

But then I had to ask myself, was what I pictured really “the best” me per se? Or was it, in actuality, evidence of the anointing God places upon those He entrusts to share His gospel message? He does give gifts for just such a purpose. And in all reality, what can we possibly give to others that we didn’t first receive from above? [i] Point made. I moved on.

It's true that one’s life isn’t measured by their actions, though actions do speak volumes about a person. Instead, God looks at the heart. [ii] In light of that, I decided that “the best” Debbie He referred to must be somewhere within.

Self-reflection is good if kept within healthy guidelines. Trouble is, hearts are fickle. If that wasn’t problem enough, viewing them in the mirror of introspection brings inaccurate reflections at best because the human perspective is defective. Naval gazing can dredge up some pretty scuzzy naval fluff you wished you hadn’t seen. What then? You’re stuck with trying to be better and do better than what you beheld in the mirror. No wonder so many walk away saying, “You must’ve mistaken me for someone else.” [iii]

I realized then that this mystery of “the best” required something that, quite frankly, I couldn’t decode myself. If I really wanted to come to know “the best” Debbie, I needed to begin by asking my Creator some specific questions.

God promised I’d be “the best”. The best of what? Debbies in general? And the best compared to who? Deborah in the Bible? Doesn’t the Bible warn against measuring and comparing ourselves with others? [iv] Also, when God says “best” does He mean flawless perfection? If that be the case, we’re sunk. How is it even possible for new creations in Christ Jesus, those in the throes of constant transformation into the image of Christ, collectively growing into the unified and mature body of Christ, to actually grasp—with our present, limited understanding—what “the best” us looks like? [v]

There’s truly something to be said for looking intently into the mirror of God’s perfect Law of Liberty for the answers. This Gospel message, implanted and rooted in us contains power to save our souls. In it, we see Jesus’ reflection. He was ranked lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death so that by the grace of God He might experience death for everyone . . . and bring many sons into glory. [vi]

The best you begins with the new you birthed in Christ Jesus. God gave His one and only Best so that through Him we could become our best in Him. Christ in us, our hope of glory. Truly this is an inside job.

When we continue to behold—in the mirror of this law that liberates—God’s overwhelming glory in the face of Jesus, we are transformed into His very own image in ever increasing splendor from one degree of glory to another. [vii] Lies we bought into are exposed. Hearts turn in obedience. Sin is forgiven and shackles removed.

Turn more pages and there Jesus is, still revealing God’s glory. As we walk it out further, our coulda, shoulda, woulda’s are silenced. Protective masks come down.

More pages turn; more glory is unveiled. We keep walking, keep obeying, and beauty sprouts from our ashes. True identities come out of hiding and God-given destinies unfold. We can blame it all on God working all this glorious liberation in us through His Son. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. [viii]   

We may have been cut from the same bolt of cloth and struggle with weaknesses common to man. But our lives are as varied as the snowflakes that fall from heaven, as unique as the variants in our DNA, as exclusive as the external influences that shape us, and as kaleidoscopically diverse as the pain, suffering, and joys that impact us. [ix]  

We may be born again of one Spirit and all of us knit together into the body of Christ, but callings are purposely customized for their own distinct purpose. Giftings and services vary, each one according to the distribution of God’s divine grace to benefit the body. [x] What better way for God to reveal His manifold wisdom to rulers and authorities in heavenly places, than through His multifaceted church? [xi] 

Face it, you and I are supernaturally natural. We are one of a kind. God, who decreed the end from the beginning, already sees our best and knows how to bring us to full liberation and fruition through His son. All of creation is literally groaning, holding its breath in anticipation of our final glorious revealing to the world. [xii]

These are not feel-good words to puff you up, I mean it! You and I are the best God ever made. Or we will be when He gets done with us.

[i] Ephesians 4:8; 1 Corinthians 4:7; James 1:17

[ii] 1 Samuel 16:7

[iii] 2 Corinthians 13:5; 1 Cor 11:31; James 1:24

[iv] 2 Corinthians 10:12

[v] 2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 4:4–16

[vi] James 1:25; Hebrews 2:9–10

[vii] 2 Corinthians 3:10, 18

[viii] 2 Corinthians 3:17

[ix] https://wwwashg.org ASHG / American Society of Human Genetics; Every Person and Genome is Unique: Variation in the Human Genome

[x] 1 Corinthians 12:12–13; Ephesians 4:4; 1 Corinthians 12:4, 7, 25–27; Romans 12:6–8;

[xi] Ephesians 3:10

[xii] Romans 8:22