As you can imagine, from St. Pete up to the Clearwater Beach area, many stars cross people’s paths without the people even knowing it. You never know when a star is born. But sometimes we do cross the path of one and it is always a memorable moment!
I do see my wife as a star, but take a look at that (star)fish.
Have you ever crossed the path of a star? Not a starfish but an actual real-life star? They create quite the attention without even trying, even local celebs. Anywhere you go you can pretty much bet a star is born. But how do you become a star in God’s eyes, in His world, in His Kingdom? How do you get recognized? First, what is the definition of recognized:
Recognized – (verb) acknowledge the existence, validity, or legality of.
Does Anyone Even Know That I Exist?
Ever feel like you don’t exist? Do you wonder if your life is valid? You are not alone. People want to be recognized. We want to be recognized for our existence, our accomplishments, for making a difference, and for adding value in some way. We want to be valid. So how do we get recognized?
Five Steps to Becoming Recognized in God’s Kingdom – When A Star is Born:
First, it’s fair to say that God does recognize our existence. That’s good news. After all, He created us. When He created us, a star was born! 😊 Okay, the steps:
1. Get to Know Him.
Yep, pretty simple. To be recognized you need to first know Him. He already knows you.
Psalm 139:13-16 MSG
Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God-you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you. The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.
2. Walk with Him.
Walk by His word, walk by Faith. That every-day-walkin’-around-kind-of-life.
Peter is a good example when walking on water. He walked on the water by faith. In other words, he walked on the water by the word of God. Jesus, God in the flesh, said to Peter, “Come.” So Peter heard the word and obeyed. What happened when Peter got distracted? What happened when he took His eyes off of the living Word? He began to sink.
Even prayer has to be in faith. In other words, you have to pray believing…
1 John 5:14-15 niv
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
God recognizes faith (His word, His will), so when you are walking in His word, that lamp unto your feet, He sees (recognizes) that.
The Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11) – these folks were recognized and placed in the Hall of Faith because of their faith.
3. Start Small.
Be faithful in the small things. Parable of the talents. Everyone who becomes a star starts somewhere. And it’s always about the small things. God recognizes this!
Matt. 25:21 niv
His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!
4. Practice.
Practice walking with Jesus in your everyday walking-around life. It will feel awkward at first. Remember that new friend, on their way to being your best friend? It was probably awkward at first, getting to know them and all. But then it becomes natural just to hang and be yourself. Your best friend always recognizes you and what you do.
5. Be a Recognizer of Others.
Remember the “lifter-upper” person? When you lift others up, it lifts you up. God is all about this – He’s all over it!
In recognizing others, you are putting them above yourself. You are putting them first. God recognizes this. In His Kingdom that makes you first….
Matthew 20:16 niv
“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
Jesus Christ is our Superstar! And to all who are born again, this is when a star is born.
Challenge of the day: Apply these steps, then you will truly be recognized as a star in His Kingdom. And even though others may not say it, they will recognize it too when a Star is Born! So be it.
