Specialness

I've had this issue with "being special" for awhile, so since I haven't written in awhile, I guess I'll just share this with you.  When we were younger, we were always told how special we were.  Maybe that's just a sign of our generation, or maybe adults have been telling children this for ages.  But here's my issue:  If we're all special, or we're all unique, is anyone really special?  If everyone is unique, then apparently being unique is normal.

For awhile I used to think the same thing about God's love.  God loves me, but God loves everyone, right?  So why should I feel special?  Why should the fact that God loves me mean anything to me if He loves billions of other people as well?

I think it would be unwise to leave you just with those questions, so I'll share with you my conclusions.  I was looking to find encouragement because I was better or more privileged than someone else.  But we can never feel better by looking at or comparing ourselves to others.  I have found my joy in the love of God by looking at myself and at Him.  When I look at my own sinful nature, it is amazing to me that He would love someone as corrupt and fallen as me.  And when I look at His holiness and goodness, it amazes me even more that He would choose not only to keep me on earth, but to send His only Son to rescue me from my condition.  

So I take comfort in God's love because I don't deserve it; because He is holy; because the idea that the Creator of the universe thinks I'm worthy.  Looking at or comparing myself to anyone else just messes things up.