Be Comfortable with Who God Has Called you to Be

Barnabas was a man called by God and he was anointed to do mighty works. He was a wealthy man, he sold his properties and left the money at the feet of the apostles. He gave up all of that to just serve. He served the leadership and he served Paul. He was willing to give up being more famous or more anointed. All he focused on was the gospel being preached. He understood that his mission and call was not as great as Paul’s and he was willing to submit. He fully understood that he was all God called him to be. He was a team player, he was a servant leader. He was willing to open the way for Paul at the expense of himself. He was a son of encouragement. He encouraged every one he met. Barnabas set up the platform for Paul and because of a dispute with John Mark, Barnabas and Paul were separated. What a travesty, yet it did not phase Barnabas. He quietly took John Mark and went off to Persia. He never bad mouthed Paul nor spoke ill of him. He was a man of the spirit.

How many of us can say the same. We want to be known. We want to advertise what we can do. When God uses us, we want it to be known. We find it very hard to remain in the background and give other people the chance to shine. We want to be our own brand embassador. This life of salvation calls for us to serve. Promotion comes from serving. The only way to overcome self is to spend time in the presence of God and allow him to go through the process of dying to self. When we die to self, we become comfortable with who we are and are willing to promote others. We recognize our own gifting, and also the gifting of others. The Holy Spirit gives us the strength and courage to remain in the back ground and allow others to be used in spite of ourselves. It’s a journey and it does not happen over night, God works on us and eventually we get to this place.

So let the Holy Spirit work on you, so you too become a servant leader.