How To Be Yourself (Sermon Blog)
Who wants to be ordinary?
God created each of us to be original—His unique masterpiece. Yet the pressure to fit in can cause us to imitate others, follow the crowd, and lose sight of who God created us to be.
Hebrews 11 introduces us to ordinary, imperfect people who chose to live extraordinary lives of faith. Moses was one of them. Although he was raised as an Egyptian prince, he chose to identify with God and His people—even when that decision came at a great personal cost.
Through the life of Moses, we discover four choices that can help us become the people God created us to be.
1. Be Yourself
“It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.” — Hebrews 11:24 (NLT)
Moses faced a major identity crisis. He was born a Hebrew but raised as an Egyptian in Pharaoh’s household. He had access to privilege, education, wealth, and influence, but he eventually had to answer an important question: Who am I?
Moses chose to embrace his true identity and identify with God’s people. He stopped allowing his position and the expectations of others to define him.
When we try to become who others expect us to be, our lives can feel out of alignment. God did not create us to be copies of someone else. There is freedom in accepting who God made us to be and living authentically as His creation.
2. Accept Responsibility for Your Life
“He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin.” — Hebrews 11:25 (NLT)
Moses could have remained in the palace and enjoyed a life of comfort. Instead, he made the difficult choice to stand with his people.
Every person has struggles, wounds, and experiences that have shaped their story. While we may not be responsible for everything that has happened to us, we are responsible for how we move forward.
Blaming others will not bring healing or change. Becoming healthy may require us to:
Honestly acknowledge the areas where we are struggling
Ask trusted people for support
Seek help when we need it
Take responsibility for our choices and our future
Moses was far from perfect, yet God still used him in extraordinary ways. Our mistakes and weaknesses do not disqualify us from God’s love or His purpose for our lives.
3. Establish a Value System for Your Life
“He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward.” — Hebrews 11:26 (NLT)
Our values determine the direction of our lives. Even if we have never written them down, our decisions reveal what we believe is most important.
Rather than allowing culture, popularity, or personal comfort to shape his choices, Moses built his life around God’s purposes.
Moses decided that:
God’s purpose is more important than popularity.
People are more valuable than pleasure.
God’s peace is more valuable than possessions.
Following God also means learning to say no. Every time we say yes to God’s purposes, we may need to say no to something that would lead us in another direction.
Take time to consider the values guiding your life. Write them down, use the Bible as your foundation, and allow God’s truth to shape your priorities.
4. Never Take Your Eyes Off the Goal
“It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.” — Hebrews 11:27 (NLT)
Moses continued moving forward because he looked beyond his circumstances and trusted what God was doing.
The Christian life is a journey of faith. There will be seasons when prayers seem unanswered, progress feels slow, and we wonder whether anything is changing. But God’s delays are not necessarily God’s denials.
Even during the years Moses spent in the wilderness, God was preparing him for what was ahead. The waiting was not wasted.
When life becomes discouraging:
Keep trusting God
Continue praying
Look beyond what you can see
Remember that God is still working
Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus
We walk by faith, not by sight. God is creating something beautiful within us, even when we cannot yet see the finished result.
Becoming Who God Created You to Be
Being unordinary is not about becoming more impressive or successful than everyone else. It is about refusing to follow the crowd and choosing to become the person God created you to be.
Like Moses, we can choose to:
Be ourselves
Take responsibility for our lives
Build our values on God’s Word
Keep our eyes on the goal
God created you to be an original. Trust Him, stay the course, and allow Him to shape you into the person He designed you to be.
We’ll continue with Part 2 of The Art of Being Unordinary this Sunday.