When you look at the twelve apostles, you can see points of common interest and areas where the disciples differed from each other. Peter, James, and John were apparently business partners as fishermen on the Sea of Galilee.

Matthew was a tax collector at a very profitable location, and the description of him leaving his business to follow Jesus suggests he had a lot to leave ("left everything" Luke 5:28).

Thomas, often called Doubting Thomas, appears to be a man who was always finding problems in life or who was not capable of dealing effectively with a situation. In John 14:5 he appears to be unable to understand Jesus' teaching and gets a kindly rebuke from the Lord. In John 11:16 he is a pessimist, as he urges the other apostles to obey Jesus and go to their deaths. No such thing was in the plan of our Lord, but Thomas often had that kind of cloudy or dark atmosphere around his thinking.

Then the passage for which he is known throughout history, John 20:19-25, he is seen as a doubter to the witness of the resurrection.

So Jesus seemed to choose followers from all areas of society. Does this not make you feel better, discouraged Christian? You may have been wishing you could be a Bible teacher like the apostles John or Peter. Perhaps you wish you might have been someone who could make a lot of money like Matthew seemed to do, in order that you might give liberally to the poor.

Or sadly, you may see yourself being like Doubting Thomas—a person with little faith. Such comparisons with other followers of Jesus are not good or helpful. The Lord made you in a particular way in order that you might glorify Him as you are—in personality, gift and calling.

Never wish to be someone else. Satan is gleefully happy when he can make you dissatisfied with who you are in the church of Jesus Christ. Rather, you should discover the reasons why God created you with the specific gift(s) you have, and get busy developing those gifts in the life situation where you were born. In Jeremiah 1:4-19 Jeremiah is in conversation with the Lord. Jeremiah is concerned about who he was, and God reminded him that He had made him to be His servant with the particular abilities he had from birth.

Resolve today to take what God has given you and seek His blessing on your life. Use what you do have and stop trying to be the person God did not create you to be. In His grace you shall become a contented person, because you did what God wanted you to do. Conform your will to His and you shall know peace and joy unspeakable (1 Peter 1:8)