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Parts is parts?
Jeff Weinkauf1 Corinthians 12:12-19
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by[c] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
Reading in 1 Corinthians 12 I'm so glad to again be reminded that we all have place in God's family. Paul is quick to share how each persons "part" is not only necessary but indeed vital to the healthy function of the body. He gives us the example that if all were an eye, where would our sense of smell be etc. We all matter in His master plan, and with out each part doing its part, the machine is out of balance. It may function but it may not function well and in fullness.
I'm remembering when we purchased a new cabinet for storage, which required assembly. In the box was a tiny bag of parts and instructions which I mostly looked at. By the time I was done putting the piece together, I had several seemingly insignificant pieces left over. These, while not really part of the structural integrity of the hutch (which is why they escaped my notice at first) turned out to be of unique importance after all. They were drawer stops which kept the sliding units from coming all the way out and dropping their contents of the drawer all over the floor.
Fail. Each part of the design was/is necessary and without those parts playing their role we had pain and frustration. From that I have learned to pay attention to the design, and all the pieces. The church is no different. We're all here for a reason, and finding our place helps the body remain healthy.
God of the design, help me to see your work and to encourage others while they serve in their unique roles. Amen
