Stewards of the Mystery of God

I Corinthians 4:1 -
1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
We are considered stewards of the mysteries of God.
What are these mysteries?
Hidden code from ancient books, that we need to research extensively and then go on a treasure hunt, braving much danger and fierce opposition.
In some respects this is true, though not in such a dramatic version and not as allusively secretive, but still having the element of mystery attached.
2 Cor 4:7 -
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
We have this treasure in our frail vessel of humanity and it has the glory of God within, so this is the element of a mystery, how the glory can operate in mortal humanity. Contained within our person is the glory of God and His treasure that shines through us to display His power and gift to the world.
Colossians 1:27 -
27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
The mystery is Christ in you - the hope of Glory.
Now we do have this mystery revealed, however, it will remain a mystery, as we know that we ourselves do not have the ability of God or His character of perfection.
We are limited human beings and we are subject to all sorts of weaknesses and failure in our attempt to be righteous.
As believers, we often feel inadequate and we want to shrink away from the responsibility of representing God in any way on earth.
This is a natural response in a world that does not take too kindly to fallen or feeble efforts of representing the truth.
We do not want to be hypocrites, or make great claims of supernatural ability, only to fall flat and have little to show, so that we would be ashamed.
Psalm 25:1-5 -
1 To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, I trust in You;
Let me not be ashamed;
Let not my enemies triumph over me.
3 Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed;
Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause.
4 Show me Your ways, O LORD;
Teach me Your paths.
5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
On You I wait all the day.

When we wait on the Lord and trust Him, we will not be ashamed or let down in any way.
It is not our responsibility to perform or come up with the power and giftings, we only need to be available and trust that God will do as He said He would and that we are His instruments, to display an aspect of His glory through our uniqueness.

2 Corinthians 3:18 -
18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
We are transformed into His likeness and this is an ongoing process of growth and gaining in confidence and discovering the mystery within.
It is a mystery when people know the old you, so the surprise is when God moves in your life and begins to shine through, people are in awe and blessed by what you can offer.
So does that mean we are now just another little clone of Jesus walking on the earth, well if we all were Jewish and wore sandals and a white robe, maybe that would appear to be true.
Jesus was the Son of God and He was God with us in human form - we however, when we become His sons are like any family, the kids are all different, unique and having their own personality,
but related, having the same name and qualities that make that family who they are.

In regard to clones and looking alike, I really believe that when you begin to shine from being a vessel containing the treasure of God, you really develop the true uniqueness, the glory of God and His giftings will bring out the person that is being perfected and the diversities of your personality will grow from the giftings that flow out from you.
As a comparison, if you look at gangs and distinct criminal or stereotype bad behaviour groups, like people with addictions, they do take on similar and known traits that make them stand out. So you see that there is a stifling of a persons true identity, when they are shaped into the behaviour of certain groups, with their trade mark looks.
There is a fear that when we give our lives to God, that we will dissapear as a unique person and become a goodie goodie, plain old straight person, that is very stiff and proper and boring.
I believe when we really are developed by that treasure within, that we really begin to take on a distinctiveness and qualities that make us unique and we will be different, as nobody else can display the giftings that are given to each of us like we can.

Another concern is that we will get a swollen head thinking this way, that we are a God type figure on earth - on the contrary if we get prideful then our character is marred and we will no longer shine from the treasure given to us, we become an obviously, flawed individual, looking very similar to others that fell that way.
No, you will know when you are a steward, that the giftings are given to you and who the giver is, so the glory always works through us, but goes back to the giver of all good gifts from above.

That is why you are a steward, it is up to you how much and what you give away and what you become in life, or you can conform to the ways of this world and become shaped by the influences and fashions that keep people contained within the place that they want to fit into.
We have each been given a unique gift and surprisingly that gift is us and we are given to the world.
Always remember that primarily we are called to be in a relationship with our God.
Jesus is our Head and our provider of the good things that we recieve from the Father, as blessed sons and daughters.
James 1:17,18 -
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
We are fruits of His creation, we can receive the good gifts that are from the Father as we are His children and can reflect His goodness.

You really are special!!! Ha! Ha! Ha! sounds like a joke, no this happens to be true, so don't despise yourself or say that I wish I had what so and so has, because then you would not be you, but a clone of someone else.
In this world, we do have many role models and the entertainment industry will portray characters who we can really admire, to the point where we model ourselves on these characters.
Role models and mentors are essential for each of us to learn from their experience and be nurtured towards our greatness, but if they become our idols, or we become influenced by there charismatic control, then we may be fashioned away from our real unique giftings.

Remember and continually remind yourself, that you are unique and you have a necessary gift for the world, where you belong and are called to be an essential part of the shining of talents for those that need it.

You can do what noone else can do and there is no point comparing your gift to others, because then you will be
under-estimating what you have been given, based on someone elses gift.
It is hard not to do that sometimes, we need to be secure in what is available to each of us as individuals and be patient that the development of our giftings will come at the right time and place, providing we are trusting and have faith in God who is the giver of good gifts.

Express your gift through who you uniquely are, like nobody else ever can.
You will shine when you steward the mysteries of God.
Mysteries are not copies but are unique and have their own expression.

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