I Corinthians
12:18
God has set the members, each one of them, in the body
just as He pleased.
Bible Reading
for a Year [bible]psalm111[/bible]; [bible]ipete3[/bible]; [bible]ezeki26-27[/bible]
At her birthday celebration, the honored guest turned the
tables by giving everyone at the party a gift. Kriste gave each of us a
personal note expressing what we mean to her, along with encouraging words
about the person God made us to be. Enclosed with every note was one piece of a
jigsaw puzzle as a reminder that each of us is unique and important in God’s
plan.
That experience helped me to read 1 Corinthians 12 with
new eyes. Paul compared the church—the body of Christ—to a human body. Just as
our physical bodies have hands, feet, eyes, and ears, all are part of a unified
body. No follower of Christ can claim independence from the body, nor can one
part tell another that it is not needed (vv.12-17). “God has set the members,
each one of them, in the body just as He pleased” (v.18).
It’s easy to feel less important than others whose gifts
are different and perhaps more visible than ours. The Lord, however, wants us
to see ourselves as He does—uniquely created and highly valued by Him.
You are one piece of a picture that is not complete
without you. God has gifted you to be an important part of the body of Christ
to bring Him honor.
Your life is
God’s gift to you; make it your gift to God.