“Just as there are many parts to our bodies, so it is with Christ’s body. We are all parts of it, and it takes every one of us to make it complete, for we each have different work to do. So we belong to each other, and each needs all the others.” Romans 12:4-5 (TLB)
One of the most common descriptions of the church in the Bible is the “body of Christ.” What Jesus Christ did when he was here in his physical body, he wants us to continue to do today. We are the body of Christ on earth.
The Bible says, “Just as there are many parts to our bodies, so it is with Christ’s body. We are all parts of it, and it takes every one of us to make it complete, for we each have different work to do. So we belong to each other, and each needs all the others” (Romans 12:4-5 TLB).
Everybody’s needed in the body of Christ—in God’s family. We are all parts of it, and it takes every one of us to make it complete.
It’s like a jigsaw puzzle. When you build a jigsaw puzzle and you’ve got one part missing, what do you notice? The one missing piece.
That’s the way it is in the body of Christ. Everybody’s needed. You may say, “I’m just a toenail in the body of Christ.” Have you ever lost a toenail? You notice it. I once dropped a 12-pound weight on a toenail. It may just be a tiny part of my body, but I sure noticed it for about six months.
Never confuse prominence and significance. Something can be prominent but not significant. My nose is prominent. It just sticks out there. But it’s not significant. I could lose my nose and keep on living the rest of my life happily ever after. It’s prominent, but it’s not significant.
But there’s significant stuff inside of me, like a liver, a heart, and lungs. They’re not prominent, but if I lost them, I’d die—because they’re significant.
You may not feel prominent in the body of Christ, but you are significant. In Christ’s body, there are many parts, but everybody’s needed. We all have work to do!
In what ways has God made you a significant part of the body of Christ—even if you’re not a prominent part?
Think of a time when you were disconnected from the body of Christ. How did it impact your life?
Think of someone you know who is significant but not prominent in the body of Christ. How can you encourage that person in their faith today?
God wants you in his forever family.
God made you to love you, and one of the places you see that most clearly is on the cross. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, God made it possible for you to become part of his family for eternity.
No matter what you’ve done or where you’ve been, you’ve got a place in God’s forever family, ready and waiting for you. The invitation is wide open. You only need to believe and receive.
Are you ready? Then pray this simple prayer: “Dear God, I know when I die, I’m going to give an account of my life to you. I know I have sinned against you, and I have lived by my plan, not yours. I want that to change, starting right now. I want to turn away from my sins and toward you.
“Thank you for sending Jesus to die for all that I’ve done wrong so that I don’t have to pay the penalty. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I know it is only by your grace that I can be saved.
“Jesus, thank you for loving me so much that you took all my guilt on yourself. You paid for my sins and made me acceptable for heaven, and I accept you as my Lord and Savior. I believe you will keep your promise to save me instantly, and certainly, and completely, and eternally. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”
If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at Rick@PastorRick.com and let me know. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus.
