When I was a teenager, I cut my thumb off when a garage door spring exploded in my hand. I cut it into seven different pieces. I wanted to do a thorough job.
It was excruciating and bloody. As crazy as it sounds, my thumb is meant to be permanently attached to my hand. When it separates, my body doesn’t like it, and my thumb and hand don’t function the way they are designed to.
My body, just like yours, is supposed to function as a unit, with everything attached and growing the way the good Lord intended. When each part is properly placed, my body operates at full capacity.
God uses the analogy of the body to help you understand why you’re such a vital part of his plan. The Bible says, “God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.” (Ephesians 1:22-23)
You are part of the body of Christ, his church- a vital part, I might add. And when you are separated from it, it’s painful, and the body of Christ doesn’t function the way that it should.
Here are three reasons you’re vital to the body of Christ.
You are the physical representation of Christ to the world.
1 Corinthians 12:27 says, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” This means you have a significant part in what God is doing around the world. It also means the way you live matters.
The Bible says, “Dear friends, I warn you as temporary residents and foreigners to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.” (1 Peter 2:11-12)
You fit perfectly into God’s kingdom plan.
It’s easy to feel insignificant. Life has a way of making you think that you don’t fit in. But God tells you the complete opposite. Through Christ, you fit perfectly.
The Bible says, “Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”(Ephesians 4:15-16)
God has given you a gift for doing certain things well.
Romans 12:6-8 says, “In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”
God has given you specific gifts that you do well. He gave you these so that you could help the body of Christ, his church function at full capacity, and fulfill his mission on the earth. You are uniquely gifted for his good purpose.
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