Part Of The Body

All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.

1 Corinthians 12:27

God created your body in an amazing way. Each part of your body has a separate job, but all the parts work together to keep you going. You have eyes to see and ears to hear. You have feet to walk and hands to touch things. You have a brain to help you think and a heart to pump blood throughout your body.

There are some parts of your body you don’t think about much, like your little toe or your pinky finger. But if you stub that toe on a chair, suddenly your whole body seems to hurt. Or when you get a splinter, suddenly you’re very aware of your finger.

The Bible says that every believer is part of the body of Christ. As God’s princess, you have a special part to play in God’s work. It may seem as if some people are more important parts of the body. They are up front at church, singing, praying, or preaching. Other people seem more like little toes. You don’t really notice them. They might be the people who count the offering after it’s collected, make sure the bulletins are printed and ready to hand out each week, dust the pews, or set out the flower arrangements. Just like with the human body, some parts may not be as noticeable, but they are necessary to keep the body of Christ working as it should.

You have a special place in the body of Christ. You may be the one who hands out supplies in Sunday school or the one who cleans up afterward. You might be the friendly face who greets others at the door or sings in the children’s or youth choir. You may be chosen to help a visitor feel welcome, or you might be selected to read the Scripture or sing when your church group visits the nursing home.

As part of the body of Christ, you have been given a special job to do by God. And it’s one that you can do well, because he’s chosen that job for you according to your abilities. So whether you feel like you play a big part or only a small one, remember that each part of the body is important. If you forget that, just remember how it feels to stub your toe. The whole body feels the pain because all the parts need to work together. The same is true in the body of Christ.

Think about all the things that have to be done to make your church run well. Who empties the trash? Who writes the bulletin? Who fills the Communion cups? Who washes the baptism robes? Be aware of the people who do the less noticeable jobs at your church, and thank them for what they do.