I used to watch my mom use a rolling pin to make a sheet of thin, flat cookie dough on wax paper. Then she stamped it with tin cookie cutters to cut out shapes: doughy little Christmas trees or stars or bells or stockings. She would bake them, spread icing on them, and—voila! Christmas cookies.
Cookie cutters are known for identical results. If you need 400 matching cookies, one cookie cutter will do it.
But we do not live cookie-cutter lives. Each is unique. Even your siblings will live lives different from yours. Consider adult siblings you know—their contrasting jobs, spouses, and children. God has unique plans. When Israel divided the Promised Land, the tribe of Levi had a unique experience:
“I will cast lots for you here in the presence of the Lord. But the Levites do not get a portion because their inheritance is the priesthood” Joshua 18:6-7.
If you look at maps in your Bible, Israel is divided into only 12 tribal lands. Though there are 13 tribes, one received no territory. Instead, Levi received the priesthood. They are a tribe of priests and were to be spread across Israel. This is a sacrifice for Levi—but the blessings outweigh the sacrifice. As priests, their families will eat the meat of the nation’s sacrificial animals, their sons will do God’s work, and their children will enjoy opportunities of all kinds.
Sometimes our lives look like that: God may bless you with education and opportunities, yet you lack things your friends have. Why? Because we do not live cookie cutter lives. God loves you and has rich, blessed plans for you. Your life will be different from the lives of your siblings, friends, and family. Welcome it! Thank God for it! He knows what he is doing.
“I know the plans I have for you! Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future” Jeremiah 29:11.
God, do your will! We trust you and we welcome your plans with hope and excitement!
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