1 Corinthians 12:19-20 If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

The truth of this chapter has to be re-taught at least every generation! We are so prone to expect or demand that everyone be the same, when even logical analysis shows that wouldn’t be best. We are so quick to exclude others, or even ourselves, on the basis of things that either don’t matter, like ethnicity, or the very things that make us valuable to one another. This applies to groups as well as individuals, when one church excludes another because of different theological emphases, each secure in their own theological “superiority.” The problem with that is that none of us has it all right, and we won’t know all the details until we are before the throne. That’s not to say that theology doesn’t matter, or that we can’t be assured of our positions, but it is to say that a majority of Church squabbles seem to be on the order of hands arguing with feet. Within the local church, self-exclusion seems to be much more of a problem, because people see that they don’t have the same gift mix as some admired brother or sister, and so they pull back and don’t see themselves as valuable. Paul is very clear that such thinking is simply wrong. I will never forget something that happened one year we were in Louisville, Kentucky while my parents were on furlough. We were members of a large church, and one of the church board members died suddenly of a heart attack. A man with cerebral palsy, who was extremely faithful as a greeter every time we had any type of church meeting, went to the pastor in tears, saying “Why couldn’t I have been taken instead? He was so valuable to the church!” The pastor replied, “You have touched more people with the love of God than he ever did.” And it was true. I had no idea who the board member was, but I’ll never forget that greeter, even though I was just 10 years old at the time. We need to understand that God has a good purpose in making each of us different, and rejoice to serve Him just as we are.

I can’t even write that story without tears coming to my eyes, though it happened over 50 years ago. I have the great blessing of having been raised never to think I was insignificant, but few around me are so blessed. I also had the other side of that taught to me, that those around me are likewise significant and valuable, and many who are raised in a privileged environment lack that. As a pastor, I need to communicate the worth of each individual to each individual, so that they may value themselves and value each other. Society hammers people down, in one way or another, and I am to lift them up and teach them to lift each other up. If we don’t see ourselves as valuable, we will have trouble valuing others. I need to seek to give them even a glimpse of how God values them, because once they see that, they will never be the same.

Father, I am so incredibly blessed, and You have a purpose for every part of that. Help me keep my eyes on Christ so that I will also be able to see others as You see them. Help me speak Your truth to them in love, so that they may be set free from the lies of the enemy to walk in the liberty of Your Spirit, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!