Doing a little car repair last summer our son encountered a common occurrence. When he had put the car back together he was left with a couple of bolts and pieces. Where did they belong? Where did they come from? No one knew.
The car seemed to function well without these pieces so we did what any good mechanic would do – we threw them away.
Sometimes we may find extra parts and pieces to our mechanical devices, even though the machine seems to work without them. What we will never find, however, are extra people who are not part of the body of Christ. In his letter to the believers in Rome Paul talks about the importance of all the people who are part of the church. What comparison is made? What is the relationship between all of these parts?
I believe one of the biggest problems in any church or place of worship is the common belief that this person or that has no ministry to do. I believe we all must realize that each one of us has something we can do for the kingdom of God. Every one of us is capable of serving the Lord and the church – and each other! – in some way.
We may be talented at teaching or leading a Bible study. We may be good at offering encouragement. We may be good at music or singing. We may be good at listening to others. There is always something that each of us can do that will glorify God.
Aside from realizing that we are all important in some way it is also essential that we remember the last few words of Romans 12:5 – “each member belongs to all the others.” By refusing or failing to be part of the body of Christ we are not only letting God down, we are depriving other believers of the riches of the wholeness of the body of Christ.
While we are all on different paths of faith we must be heading in the same direction following the guidance of Jesus. We all must follow the compass of God’s love and become part of the whole body of God’s kingdom.
DAILY CHALLENGE: How will you join in the body of Christ?http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2012:4-5&version=NIV1984
