You are special to God

A sign over a mirror in a public school reads, “You are now looking at the most special person in the world.” Tell a child something often enough and loudly enough, and he’ll grow up believing it. But to tell a child, “You are the most special person in the world” is going about a proper thing in the wrong way. Why? Special people expect special privileges and don’t want to follow the rules. They go to the head of the line or push their way to the front thinking, “Why not? I’m special.” They expect teachers and administrators to treat them differently. Why? “I’m special,” which means, “You can’t treat me like all the other kids.”

And when they become adults, they often find out that they are not prepared to handle the challenges. Life doesn’t give you special breaks and privileges just because you think the world owes you a living. It is one thing to convey the message to a child that he is loved and another thing to say that he is the most special person in the world. Reality doesn’t support it.

Are you special to God? There is no ambiguity in the answer because the entire Bible shouts aloud: “Yes, you are important to Him!” God has no “throw-away” lists.

When you read the New Testament you find account after account of Jesus taking time for the people that the world never considered “special” by a long shot – the Samaritan woman at the well who had had a string of relationships; Zaccheus, a man who earned his living the shady way; a prostitute caught in the act of adultery; and so forth. Jesus had time for them, reflecting the values of His Father – and He has time for you.