In episode four of our podcast series on TEMPLATES, That Christian Next Door Podcast host Samuel Obasi shares the beauty of individuality in Christianity, how the burden to showcase God is on every Christian and how to not get stifled by that responsibility but to instead function in it.
My name is Samuel Obasi, host of the That Christian Next Door Podcast. I am a child of God, a husband, a son, a brother, a pharmacist by profession, a quiet guy, a guy (in all the good sense of that word, without any of the bad, I hope) – and when you come to think of it, that is a lot of things for one person to be!
And that is the nature of life. We are a lot of things. We fill a lot of blank spaces. When we look at Jesus Christ with the intention of imitating his example, it’s impossible to not become a multi-talented and multi-faceted individual.
After all, Jesus was an inspirational leader and also the feet-washer. He was the mourner, the consoler and the healer, all in one. He authors faith and sees it to completion. He hopes for the best, he prays for the best and, in being God, he then works everything in such a way that it turns out for the best. So, you find that any true imitator of Jesus should not be a one-trick pony.
1st Corinthians 3 vs 16 speaks a beautiful truth that all Christians should know and embrace – which is that they are the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives inside of them and was given to them by God from himself. This truth is also an encouragement for anyone who doesn’t have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ – where you can call Him Lord and Savior. The encouragement is that there can be a whole lot more to life if you let God live inside of you.
This Holy Spirit, living inside of a Christian, manifests different gifts in people, for different functions, which may be carried out in myriad ways. Because God cannot be put in a box, Christians also should not put themselves in a box. You are created by a magnificent God and your potential and reach is boundless. And the ways that God will use you for His kingdom, if you choose to be a functioning part of the kingdom, will not be rigid, boring or prosaic. 1st Corinthians chapter 12 really goes into this. I recommend the Amplified classic version.
A fully functioning Christian will astound, terrify, encourage, surprise, reinvigorate, anger, motivate, spotlight and restore people and their hearts, souls and minds back to God. No two Christians should be alike. Why would God make two of you? Every individual is created carefully, thoughtfully and intentionally by God. You are no-one’s replacement and no one will replace you. You are intended for what God calls you for – for that specific time and place. And in that time and place, you alone are the best choice. But you have to put in your best effort. Because others will get a chance too. Now, although others get a chance, it does not mean that they are your replacement (or you anyone else’s). You have your own quirks, skills, personality and the Holy Spirit will operate in each individual as diversely (and to varying degrees in each diversity) as he chooses.
Your individuality is proof that you cannot be replaced but it is also proof of God’s burden (light as it is certainly) on you to be all he intended you to be. He created only one of you (no contingency plans) because he was going all out. He sees you even if you have not yet seen him face to face.
My brother recently asked me what my favorite Bible passage was. I couldn’t tell him at the time because I didn’t know and because I couldn’t choose but then also because the now is just as important as any recorded in that book, wonderful as it is. I don’t really want to get lost in someone else’s experience of God; I want mine. Moses’ face glistened from his proximity to God; I want my glow too! Where my glow at?! Anyways, while I work on answering that question, I will share one of my favorite verses in the Bible, which is Hebrews 6 vs 7. I was first introduced to it by Peter Louis of Braveheart Ministries and Upper Room out in Dallas, Texas.
It goes: “For the soil which has drunk the rain that repeatedly falls upon it and produces vegetation useful to those for whose benefit it is cultivated partakes of a blessing from God.” I must read verse 8. “But if that same soil persistently bears thorns and thistles, it is considered worthless and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.”
To finish: Jesus’ life produced vegetation useful for those around him and this is the Christian template: to afford a taste of heaven – to afford people a taste of a beautiful and perfect God.
That Christian Next Door 
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