"'Follow your heart' has ended more marriages, mutilated more bodies, destroyed more souls, and ended more lives than the devil could have ever imagined. It is hell's most effective slogan yet." -- Nate Pickowiez

I've been rewatching episode 5 of season 2 of The Chosen again, but via the app this time. I just saw where Jesus is talking alone with Simon (the Zealot) beside the lake. Jesus just threw Simon's dagger into the water and is explaining He has a better sword. Simon wonders why Jesus needs him, then.
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"Without my secret dagger, why do You need someone like me?"

Jesus says, "I have everything I need, but I wanted you."

"Why?"

"You are not alone in misunderstanding [My purpose and mission on Earth], but not to worry. I'm preparing something to share with the world. For now, wanting you by My side will have to be enough. No one buys their way into our group because of special skills, Simon."
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That makes me think of why God makes people with special skills, talents, and interests, then. Perhaps it is the "language" we speak and the thoughts about that area of life that help us to relate to others, but it helps us (more importantly) to uniquely converse with Him! He can speak to me in the parables, lingo, and ideas in the worlds of writing, art, music, cooking, etc. He speaks to someone else through music, too. He speaks to Samuel through the world of photography and perfecting systems. God speaks to a friend through the world of science and marine life. He speaks to another through the worlds of nature and craftsmanship, as He does to me, and we can converse about Him that way.

And, the first person I thought of when I started writing this got the "Counselor and Comforter" 'coin' at the "Attributes of the Holy Spirit" station at our Pentecost/Weeks/Shavuot gathering today. That seemed to strike her because of what she does.

Does God need us? Does He need our skills or work? No.
He WANTS us. He CHOSE each of us. There's a design where the interests, skills, and talents are a specific combination where He can speak to us individually, as His special companion, creating a unique and incredible connection that can grow deeper and more implanted into our minds and hearts. Yes, that allows us to relate to others with that same interest or help others with that skill or talent. However, that very precise and unique pattern that is me, the primary purpose for that and for my experiences, is to enrich and strengthen that tie with our Creator, our Friend, our Beloved. He enters a heart like a key and there's a very unique and resounding "click." Wow! :heart:

"By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires." -- 2 Peter 1:3-4 (NLT)