The Body of Christ

Just as each one of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. (Romans 12:4-5)

The body of Christ functions best when every part of the body plays it’s role.  It doesn’t matter how small you think your role may be, it’s important to the body of Christ.

About 6 weeks before I was due with Zion, I fell and broke my pinky finger.  The break was so bad that I had to have surgery and had pins placed in.  I really didn’t think too much about it at first.  After all, it was only a pinky.  I mean how often do I really use my pinky.  Well, I soon found out.  My whole hand was put into a splint.  My one pinky affected the life of my entire hand.  Now I was experiencing what it was like to wash my hair with one hand, clean the dishes, get dressed, cook, and try to type with only one hand.  I learned that my pinky, even though it was small…  played a vital role in my life.  This one injury to the smallest finger I have prevented the rest of my hand from working as it should.

So even if you feel that you serve a pinky size role in the Body of Christ, I promise you that it’s significant.  The rest of the hand cannot work without you functioning in your unique role.  And to those who serve in other roles, remember that when one person is hurting or injured… We are all affected by it.  We should stop and help our brothers and sisters in Christ.  May we never be too busy to encourage fellow believers.  We will function better and stronger when we all encourage one another forward in our work with Christ.  Paul puts it best in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27,

One Body with Many Parts

¹² The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. ¹³ Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

¹⁴ Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. ¹⁵ If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?

¹⁸ But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. ¹⁹ How strange a body would be if it had only one part! ²⁰ Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. ²¹ The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”

²² In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. ²³ And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, ²⁴ while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. ²⁵ This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. ²⁶ If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

²⁷ All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.

~1 Corinthians 12:12-27 (NLT)

Dear Father God, Please remind each one of us how vital our role is to the Body of Christ.  Help us to play our role well.  May we function as one Body.  May we stop when we see someone hurting and encourage them onward.  May we never take even the smallest role for granted!  Lord, please show us where we are not functioning well and help us get back on track!  We are Your Body and we desire to serve You! 

Desiring to Function Well in my Role,