You are a Body Part

You Are a Body Part 

by David Brenneman 

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"For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.  If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be?  But now there are many members, but one body.  And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary;  and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it."

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12:12‭-‬27‬ ‭NASB1995

"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:5

"It's not for me." Is not an option or answer.  We all have a purpose in the body of Christ...as we just read...placed as the Spirit sees fit. 

When we come to Christ getting out of Hell and knowing that Heaven is our ultimate destination isn't the whole thing. 

We indeed are placed in the body of Christ. 

We indeed have something special and specific to be doing.  There are no couch potatoes in the Church.  There are no bench warmers.  No sideline watchers.  There are people who have a purpose. We are people with a purpose. 

Prayer isn't just about our own requests being made known unto God. It's the sharing of all prayers and petitions for all the saints.  From what a child might consider important to the most elderly among you.  Jesus doesn't care what age the person is who wants an intimate relationship with Him.  Doesn't care how flowery the speech might be if what is said to Him is from a sincere heart.  

I find that my prayers aren't as elaborate as many that I have heard others make.  My prayers are between my heart and the heart of Christ Jesus.  So are yours. 

It's harder for me at this point in time to learn what it is that I am to be doing in my new hometown for Jesus.  Because I just don't know.  Writing whatever it is that God's leading me to write hasn't ceased a bit since moving.  My employment status might be considered questionable in terms of it really being where I am to be until retirement arrives.  But in terms of Spiritual work in the body of Christ...there's no Biblical position of retirement but physical death.  

We're not to think that once we come to Christ that we can go off and do whatever suits our fancy.  We're not to think that the blessings are just going to roll in for us to not have concerns or cares that we can't handle.  

We are shown up front in the Word of God that the work now begins. 

We will be heavily tempted to consider what we want for ourselves before the needs of others.  We will be tempted to spend every blessing on ourselves.  We will be tempted to do other things in the name of Jesus that perhaps are not meant for us to be doing. 

The Spirit sets each one of us in the body as He sees fit.  

As several have said to me...right now I am in a season of some sort of waiting period.  I have yet to build friendships like I was used to.  With my personality it's not an easy thing to do.  It's certainly more difficult than some might think for me.  

But I know that God is faithful.  He's proven that over and over again.  He will provide friendships when the time is right.  So I added more time with Jesus to my life.  My morning's start with this blog. Before going to bed, my daily Bible reading's are expanding.  Doesn't matter who, in this physical world, wants to get to know me and who doesn't, my Savior does. 

I am His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that I might walk in them.  So are you if you are in Christ. 

You aren't just to go day by day without a real purpose.  You have a definite purpose in God's plan for this moment in human history.  It's why you are here.  It's why I am here.

Many many people think they must spearhead their careers and their lives. 

That's not what the Bible says, especially not of Believers. 

Scripture says our lives are hidden in Christ with God.  

What are you doing to learn what it is that God's got in mind for you?

If indeed you are saved you indeed have something to contribute to the body of Christ.   From the simplest of things to the greatest possible.  You indeed matter to the Spirit in you fulfilling your purpose in Christ.  

When you eventually give an account of your life before Jesus...will there be any evidence that you tried your best to do whatever was given to you to be doing?

The refrain from the hymn "Give of Your Best to the Master" is:

Give of your best to the Master;
Give of the strength of your youth;
Clad in salvation’s full armor,
Join in the battle for truth.

You my Dear Friend, my Dear Reader, are wholly special in the eyes of God.  If indeed you are saved, you're one of His sheep, listening for His voice to follow His leading. Going where He goes, staying where He says to stay. 

While my search goes on as to learning what it is that God's got for me to be doing, I know that I can still grow in Christ until it's revealed...the same can be said of you.

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.