Many Members

1Corinthians 12:12-27- "For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being 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 all have been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand I am not of the body,' is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, 'Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,' is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, 'I have no need of you.' No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary, but our presentable parts have no need. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unrepresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually."

In this passage we see the Church compared to a human body, with the focus on the fact that this body "is one and has many members." We see that just us our bodies have different parts with different functions, we each have a specific place in the body of Christ. The fact that there is "one body" tells us that there is to be unity among believers, but we are also told that there are "many members," which shows us that we are not all to be exactly alike. Psalm 33:15 says, "He [God] fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works." God has created us to be unique: He created you to express an aspect of His glory that no one else can. You are unique and you have a place in God's kingdom that only you fit. This passage tells us of two attitudes that often keep us from finding our place in God's kingdom:

Some think they have to be like everyone else:
There are some who look down on themselves and think there is something wrong with them because they aren't just like everyone else. So many people today are miserable because they are trying to fit into a mold that was made for someone else. God made each of us unique and we can reflect His nature in a way that no one else can. I have often used the illustration of a puzzle when discussing this: each piece of the puzzle has a unique shape, has a different part of the picture on it, and each piece goes into a different place, but each piece fits together to make one puzzle. You may not be like everyone else, but God has fashioned your heart individually (uniquely) for a reason: so you will fit in that special place He has for you.

Some think they don't need the rest of the Church:
There are others who have the attitude: "I don't need anyone else, I can serve God by myself." The truth is, regardless of how smart a person may be, how talented they are, how much money they have, or even how much discipline they may have, we need each other. Even though we are each unique, even though we are many members we must not forget that we are still "one body."

If anyone reading this has struggled with either of these attitudes I want to remind you that you are valuable to the Lord. In one of the earlier blogs I wrote that we are each God's treasure (It is titled "God's Treasure"). I encourage you to look back at that blog and remind yourself that you are valuable to God. You may not see yourself as valuable, but God does. How much does God love us? We see the answer in this statement: "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while were still sinners Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8). The Lord has such a love for You that He paid the ultimate price to have You as His own. Learn to rest in God's love and find your value in Him instead of what you accomplish or what others say or think. As you do this you will find a peace and a joy that comes only from the Lord.