Have you ever chopped a finger off and suddenly realized how important even a small part of your body really is? Me neither! But I did have my large intestines removed, and let me tell you, it's easy to take parts of the body we’ve never seen for granted, yet you sure know it when they’re gone. The body that this verse talks about is no different. Without any member, out of sight or not, the body does not function to the fullest potential that God designed it for.

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How do you see yourself in connection with others following Jesus? Can you see how vital it is to be connected, or do you doubt your importance in the body of believers? Do you think you can go it alone just fine, or can you tell that it’s not healthy to live that way? Has it ever hit you that life could be better together?

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It can be so easy to get caught up in the culture of independence, the temptation for isolation, or the lie that you don’t have anything to bring to the table. But what if the reason that none of those ways seem to lead you closer to Jesus is because we were created for so much more. The reality is that you matter to God, and you matter to the body of Christ.  

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It can be easy to see the person with a different gift than you as more valuable, but that’s a lie. There are times when we may not even see exactly where we fit. But this is for certain: if you are in Christ, you belong to the body. You need the body, and the body needs you. Just like the human body, each part has a purpose, and without any given part, the body can’t function optimally as it should. That means the different parts of the body shouldn’t look the same. We’d have a real problem if we were all ears, and there weren’t any hands, feet, eyes, etc.

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This body made of different parts paints such a beautiful image. God knew exactly what he was doing when he created you and me differently so that we could function together in community and in relationship for his glory.  

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How does this look for you? Do you feel connected with the body or are you still trying to figure out how you fit? If you are part of ACF, there are a lot of practical ways to explore what this looks like to you. At Crash Course we talk about different gifts, personalities, and how you can become connected as part of the body. In our life group we do a lot of personal aspects of life together. In our serve team communities we serve, pray, and walk alongside one another.  

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Maybe you aren’t yet a believer. That means that you’re not part of the body of Christ yet, but you still belong at our church. You have a seat at our table, and we (the body) want to create a space for you to encounter Jesus. Every follower of Jesus belongs to the body of Christ, so don’t listen to the lies that may tell you differently. Instead, talk to a trusted friend about your place in the body.

Lord, thank you for creating us to be part of a body. Please remind each of us that no matter the gifts that you have given us, that we matter to you and we matter to the body. Would you use us together as one to bring you glory. Amen!