The other day, as I was using social media, I happened upon a post. A birthday greeting from one person to another, honoring them for being “the most gentle person I know.”
And my immediate thought, after celebrating them, was…

I want that to be said about me, too, Lord! I want to be the most gentle person people know.

Sounds good, right? Noble, even. Most gentle. Most kind. Most loving or gracious or any number of other great virtues that bless others.
But in that split second of conversation between the Lord and me, His reply, both gentle and kind, surprised me. 

It was not: Wow, that’s noble of you! I’d love to make you into the most gentle person people know.
Nor was it: Yes! That’s My will for you, as well! Let’s get on that!
It also was not: Yes! You’re on your way! You’ve got some rough edges to rub off, but you’ll get there…
His answer was altogether different, yet altogether Him!
His answer to me was this: You don’t have to be the most…anything…just be you.

Yes! Isn’t that just like my Father! Isn’t that just like Jesus!

He’s not looking to make us into the most effective. Or the most powerful. Or the most spontaneous or funny or pleasant or joyful or handsome or beautiful or any of the myriad other things we wish we were or think we should be.
He is simply all about us being us! You being you and me being me. Walking, moment by moment, in relationship with Him.
Bringing honor and glory and delight to Him, through Him, in Him and because of Him, as we simply learn to be ourselves and allow His Spirit to flow through us!

None of us has to be the “most” anything. We can’t be. There will always be someone who others think is smarter or funnier or wilder or better. It just is. Because we are not actually in competition. Not with each other. And not with ourselves.
Life isn’t about competition. It’s about relationship. 

And so today, I encourage you – take one more step into being you. Into becoming you. Not what you think you should be or could be or will be or want to be. But you. Just you. Simply, beautifully, amazingly you! 
And as your heart is open, changes will come!
Things that need to be rubbed off, will be. The sharp edges. The false belief systems. Anything that is not honoring to God will be removed. 

He will do it, as you continue in relationship with Him and with others.
And in the meantime, as you walk and as you talk, learn to be you! 
You don’t have to be the best or the most. You can just simply be you.

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another. John 13:34-35

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17
It takes a grinding wheel to sharpen a blade, and so one person sharpens the character of another. Proverbs 27:17 TPT