Session 2

Everyone matters, including you

From Chasing Purpose: A 27-Day Devotional

The human body is complex. Our 78 organs work individually and collectively. A dozen distinct systems coexist seamlessly.

God created every part of our body for a specific purpose. Hands pick up objects, write letters, and steer the car. Feet take us down the street, up the stairs. Our hearts ensure that blood gets to every inch of our bodies, and our brains supervise and regulate bodily activities.

What would the heart be without vessels to carry its live-giving force? And what would our brain be without that blood to power it? Every part must work together in harmony, so the body as a whole will thrive.

The same is true of the church. When we give our lives to Jesus, we join the body of believers. Each of us has different talents and abilities. But every person is vital, even if their gifts and service are not as visible as others’.

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6 and 1 Corinthians 12:12).

You are the only you in the church. Your gifts, abilities, and experiences won’t look like anyone else’s, and that’s a good thing. We need each other for the body to function effectively.

So rather than trying to be someone else, ask God to help you grow in the gifts and abilities He’s given you. Because when everyone in the church knows and operates in their gifting, the world gets a fuller, better picture of the God we represent.

Reflect:

• Do you know what your spiritual gifts are? Use this assessment to get a better picture of how God wired you.
  
• Often it’s easier to see what others bring to the team than what we bring to the team. When’s the last time you let the people in your home, your work, or your friend circle know what you appreciate about how God made them?