Weekly Devotional: May 23, 2010

Words to Grow On

“But in fact God has arranged the parts of the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.”

~ 1 Corinthians 12:18

Have you ever looked at a puzzle? Once finished, from a distance, it looks like a whole picture, but really, it’s not. It is one whole picture that is made up of several small pieces. If you were to inspect the pieces, you would notice that some have straight edges, some have mostly little holes and divots, others have mostly knobs and bumps, and some have combinations of all these features. And that’s just the way it needs to be.

Just as each piece of a puzzle is meticulously cut and shaped to fit together with the others around it in order to make a whole picture, so we are gifted and shaped to fit together with those around us to make a picture of the kingdom of God. One puzzle piece on the table does not reveal the picture, nor is it at all stable. Once it is connected to the other pieces in the puzzle, they show the picture, and hold each other together – stable. Likewise, we need to fit in our place in God’s picture of his kingdom – the church – in order to be made, and make others, stable and to reveal the whole picture.

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” There are no exceptions. If you are part of a church fellowship on any level, you have a purpose – a function (and if you’re not, you need to be). If a puzzle piece is missing, it leaves a glaring, obvious hole in the picture. In the same way, if you are not connected in the church, there is a glaring hole in the picture. Without you, someone is not being prayed for, people are missing the encouragement they need, the word of truth they need, or the compassion they need. Without you, kids aren’t being taught, the lost aren’t being invited, and the picture of the kingdom is incomplete. Don’t let a worldly view of success and significance deceive you. Whatever you bring to the body is important and necessary. Otherwise, God wouldn’t have brought you here.

There is another side to this puzzle. We like being able to contribute and find true significance, but even if we are able to set our need for those things aside through hyperactive humility, there is the issue of disobedience. You see, God arranged each and every part of his body “just as he wanted them.” It is his will – even command – that you participate in the life and mission of the church. To withhold your service, for any reason, is to disobey and thus receive the gift of God in vain. There is work God wants to do in you and through you. You willing obedience will put you in a position to experience the work of God. Remember, it’s not about you. But you get to be involved. Even the smallest service to “the least of these” can have a great impact. What a blessing to be a blessing!

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