Own Who You Are

Have you ever seen something that you thought was too bad to be true? I know the cliché saying is, “it’s too good to be true.” But, what I want to know is if you’ve ever seen something that was too bad to be true?

I’ll never forget the very first time I left the United States.

I went down to the Dominican Republic for a mission trip. Our basketball team in college was there to serve the community by day and play basketball games by night. I couldn’t have picked a better scenario. To have the opportunity to preach and teach about Jesus by day and then play basketball at night felt like a dream.

But, what I didn’t realize is how much of an emotional toll that our service to the community would bring on me. To clarify, it wasn’t because of the tangible serving we were doing. Rather it was because of who we were serving.

I remember walking to the center of a basketball court that was located in the middle of a slum and being surrounded by 30-40 kids who were all between the ages of 5-12. As I looked around, I saw kids barefoot, with broken flip flops, with holes in their shoes, rips in their shirts and dirt on their faces and in their hair.

“This is basketball camp!” I thought.

In America, you wear your nicest basketball shoes, mom and dad buy you a new headband to wear, you wear your favorite basketball jersey to basketball camp.

These kids had no concept of that. This is all they had. Literally.

And yet, the smile that was on their faces brought tears to my eyes and goosebumps to my spine. Because I thought, “how could someone with so little be grateful for so much?” 

It was in that moment that I realized that these kids weren’t smiling because of what they were lacking, they were smiling because of what they were being given. For 60 minutes that day, these funny-looking Americans treated them like royalty. We treated them like they were the most important people in the world.

These kids—what they wanted more than anything—was attention, affirmation and approval. And for 60 minutes, we were able to serve them by giving them our undivided attention.

It was a day that I’m sure they’ll never forget. It was a day I’ll never forget either.

Why do I tell you this? Because this moment is one of the most vivid memories I have of seeing an action make a tangible difference in the life of someone else. I wasn’t rebuilding a home or gifting an expensive clothing item. I was giving up the most precious commodity I own.

My time.

In giving up my time, I was dignifying these children—reminding them that they matter—in the process. 

See, so often, we’re afraid to serve others because we think that unless we’re bringing clean water to a civilization, giving away thousands of dollars, building a fancy new building, or raising the awareness of millions, our service doesn’t matter.

But I’m here to remind you that you are a difference-maker.

You are a trailblazer.

You are a world changer. 

God has given you a unique set of gifts, talents and tools along with a distinct mission with a potential of kingdom-impact that only you can fulfill.

When you own the fact that in Christ, God has commissioned you into this world as a servant-leader, the potential of your impact expands infinitely and eternally.

It is servant-leaders who change the world.

“God has given you a unique set of gifts, talents and tools along with a distinct mission with a potential of kingdom-impact that only you can fulfill.”

It is servant-leaders—who have fully embraced who God has called them to be and are willing and ready to RISK EVERYTHING for the cause of Christ—that we’re going to look back on as saints with lives well-lived.

Do you believe that God put you here for such a time as this?

Do you believe that you are God’s Child—commissioned to do great things for His glory?

It is servant-leaders—servants of Christ, leaders of humanity—that change the world.

I’m sure right now, there’s probably a million excuses flying through your head.

“Develop the conviction and courage necessary to lean into who God is calling you to be.”

“Micah, I’m just a typical millennial living in suburbia with enough to survive but not much more. I can’t make a difference.”

“Micah, I’m too messed up to be used by God. Micah, I’m too rough around the edges for God to want me.”

Listen, you can buy into the lies that Satan will try to throw your way or you can look to Jesus who, 2,000 years ago, pulled 12 men—some of whom were most likely teenagers—into his inner-circle. For three years, Jesus’ disciples followed, studied and learned under his teachings. 

After Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, Jesus appears before the disciples and commissions them. He says, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

These men had the conviction and courage necessary to lean into who God was calling them to be. They did not run from danger, they ran into it—not recklessly, but faithfully—believing that God would uphold the promise that they would be used to shape the world forever.

I believe God is calling this generation—that he’s calling you and us—to rise up and lead the Church, culture and all of humanity into a new era of authenticity, worship and community. It will require a new level of faith and strength, but more than anything, it’s going to require leaders who are willing to get on their knees, grab a towel, and serve as Jesus once did.

“I believe God is calling this generation into a new era of authenticity, worship and community.”

You have what it takes.

Be encouraged.