Daily Devotional

In 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick made one of the greatest discoveries in the history of the world.  Peering into the genetic structure deep inside our cells, they were the first to identify the structure of human DNA, containing the equivalent of 384 Encyclopedia volumes of complex instructions capable of assembling the proteins in our body.  Amazingly, each human being has a genetic composition that is absolutely unique and one-of-a-kind.

In the last century, scientists have discovered about a dozen other ways people are spectacularly unique.  For example, even identical twins don’t have the same fingerprints.

Stop reading for just a minute and go look at your ears in a mirror.  The shape and ridges of your outer ear are so distinctive that computers could use them to identify you with 99.6% accuracy.

Next look at your tongue.  The distribution of bumps and ridges you see is completely unique to you.  Aren’t you glad that each bump has 10,000 taste buds capable of identifying all of the wonderful flavors we enjoy?

Several decades ago, researchers put lights on people’s ankles, knees and hips and filmed the motion of their stride.  They realized that each person’s gait was totally unique and identifiable.  In a recent murder trial, prosecutors introduced surveillance video of the defendant walking and he put up his hands and confessed.
 
Your voice… your teeth… your lips… the swirls and patterns in your iris… and the prints on your toes.  All of those characteristics confirm the fact that you are a special and unique masterpiece fashioned by the creative hand of Almighty God.  You are literally one in eight billion, and that’s an understatement.  The fact is there’s never been anyone exactly like you in the history of the world and there never will be.

So here’s an interesting thought to ponder today.  If God made you so unique physically, don’t you think he would have an equally special purpose for your life?  Ephesians 2:10 says that “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
 
God made you and put you on this earth and brought you to faith in Christ for a special purpose that no one else can accomplish besides you.  The things you will do, the friends you will make, your impact in people’s lives – all of that is as spectacularly unique as your DNA or the shape of your ears or the sound of your voice.  So go be yourself, and remember that God created you to glorify him in a way that no one else can.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.