The Prodigy in Me

The thought that there’s a prodigy in each of us is very encouraging and empowering. And it’s true. Everyone is created with uniqueness and distinction to be great. We’re all prodigies. There’s a prodigy in me. There’s a prodigy in you. There is only one you that will ever live, so you have a responsibility to mankind to be that person you were created to be. We all have a purpose. This makes each of us extremely valuable.

I recently listened to a series entitled “The Prodigy in Me” from Elevation Church. It was a powerful series and very instrumental in the life of one of my athletes during an important moment. I’ve returned a number of times to portions of those sermons to be encouraged and reminded of this simple, yet bold, truth. There’s a prodigy in me, but it’s not about me.

I paraphrased a few memorable comments from the series below:

Prod-i-gy (noun) – a person, or especially a child or young person, having extraordinary talent or ability.

Isn’t it interesting that the dictionary singles out young people in this definition? We don’t have to convince our 7-year olds that they are creative. They just create. And then life and dumb people, and negligent parents and bad friends beat the prodigy out of you, but we’re all born with the image of God inside of us. Even if you don’t have a personal relationship with Christ, the Bible says that you are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26). And so sin fractures that image, sin distorts that image, but Christ came to reclaim that image and when he comes into your life he fills your life. So, the first definition of prodigy is extraordinary talent or ability.

A second definition is “a marvelous example” (usually followed by of). So, in our usage, a prodigy of God’s grace, or a prodigy of God’s mercy.

Number three: Something wonderful; a wonder. Number four: Something abnormal or monstrous. This definition is proof that, one way or another, we all fit the category (sarcasm). Number five (this is an archaic definition, but it’s worth mentioning): Something extraordinary regarded as of prophetic significance.

Say this out loud: “I’m a prodigy because God’s in me.” Come on, say it out loud.

I’m a prodigy because God’s in me. Now, that’s the key right there, because we don’t preach from the dictionary here; we preach from the Bible. A few more verses of scripture you should study if you want to learn about the gifts God has put inside of you, the potential, the calling that he’s put on your life, you can study the following:

Ephesians 4:7-8, where the Apostle Paul tells us, “but to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.” Now, if it’s been given that means it’s a gift. And if it’s a gift, that means I can’t take credit for it. One thing that really trips me out is when someone is really good at something and they think that it’s all about them. What you need to realize about this series is this isn’t some self-help bull crap where I fill you full of a bunch of self-esteem. I’m trying to get you to understand Christ-esteem and to know that it’s God’s hand on you, God’s favor on you, God’s spirit in you, that creates hope for you. Christ has given us grace, then in verse 8, he says, “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.” And your gift was not given for you to sit on it, but so that you would re-gift it so that the world could see what Jesus looks like in you, through you, fighting for you. And it goes all the way on through verse 13.

1 Peter 4:10-11 says, “Each of us should use whatever gift he has received to serve others.” To serve others. The prodigy in me is not about me. It’s about others. The prodigy in you isn’t about you. It’s not about you, it doesn’t matter if these people like you or agree with you, it’s all about Jesus, it’s only about Jesus, and it’s always about Jesus. It’s given to serve others, “faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”

You can also look at two of the classic passages in the Bible, Romans 12:3-8 and 1 Corinthians 12, the entire chapter is all about the gifts God has placed inside of you for His glory.

Of course there’s a balance and there’s a flipside to everything. I’m talking about the prodigy in you, but we have to know a few foundational things and the reality of it is: Although there is a prodigy in everyone, no one is a prodigy at everything. You’re not that good. Maybe that’s the reminder that you needed today. Some of you feel unworthy of God’s love and He’s going to use this to lift you up to show you who you are in Jesus. Others of you are good and you know it. And you’ve lost sight of how much if it wasn’t for others and if it wasn’t for God’s forgiveness, you wouldn’t be here today.

Oswald Chambers says, “Every unguarded strength is a double weakness.” That’s why the same gift that God put inside of me, to make me passionate about preaching the Gospel, if it is abused (abnormally used, that’s what abused is: used for the wrong purpose), then I could be a pusher on the street using the same gift God has given to lead thousands to Jesus to try to sell drugs to children. So, in that way we would say every drug user is a misguided entrepreneur or preacher for God. And the most foundational thing you can understand is the prodigy in me is not about me; it’s not for me.