DO YOU FEEL INSIGNIFICANT? YOU ARE IMPORTANT TO GOD!

BIBLE PASSAGE:
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” 
And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 
(1 Corinthians 12:21)

MEDITATION:
In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he reminded them of the importance 
of the contribution of everyone to the success of the church.
The church consists of many people 
with various spiritual gifts which create the church body as a whole.

Some are given gifts from the Lord that put them in visible positions, 
while others have gifts that are used in less visible ways.
Those with visible gifts (such as teachers, preachers, missionaries, etc.) 
feel the pressure of expectations from others, and from God.
The passion for honoring the Lord 
and encouraging others to use their gifts can be draining at times.
They want to please the Lord by ‘spurring other toward love and good deeds’. 
 
However those with less visible gifts are just as important.
For instance, imagine going into the sanctuary to worship 
and there is no heat in cold weather, or air conditioning in hot weather.
If someone failed to prepare the sanctuary for worship, then the people 
who love the Lord and want to hear what He has to say to them, 
will be distracted by the uncomfortable conditions (some may even leave).

We could cite many more examples, but Paul summed it up by reminding us that
we all need each other as part of the body of Christ, which is the church.
God has given each believer valuable spiritual gifts which
fulfill the needs of others within the church, and complete the church body.

When reading Paul’s letter that tells us no one within the church 
can say another person is not needed, it reminds us that 
no believer can say to the Lord, “I don’t need You”.
Without Him, we crumble under the challenges that come our way.

When we exclude the Lord, 
all we have left is our own strength, will and wisdom.
God sees the entire parade of our life, 
but all we see is the part in front of us.
We all need His insight and guidance for the long haul, 
which helps us to get through the brief times of turmoil as well.

ACTION:
Do you feel you are not needed by the body of Christ, the church?
That is not what the scriptures 
say about you – you are a vital part of the church body.
You have a choice to use your special spiritual gift from God, 
to contribute to the health of the church, 
or withhold it and create a void in the church body.

You might be saying, “I don’t know what my gift is”.
If you are not participating in any way, 
you may never discover His gift to you.
Worshipping and interacting with other believers 
opens the door for God to show you His spiritual gift for you.

Initially, your gift may be your presence with the church body as an
encouragement to the pastor who is trying to use the gift God has given him.
To you it may seem insignificant, 
but to the pastor your presence provides great value.
If everyone who loves the Lord, saw no need to attend church, 
then the body of Christ would die (as many churches are doing today 
due to a lack of commitment from those who claim to be followers of Jesus).

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” 
(Matthew 18:20)

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, I need You! You fill the voids in my life, You 
give me guidance, You comfort me, You lift my spirit, You hear 
my prayers, You give me confidence that I can endure hardships, 
You give me spiritual gifts, and most of all You love me and 
consider me an important part of the body of Christ, the church. 
Forgive me for creating a void within the church due to my own 
selfishness. Impress on me the importance of my presence as a 
contributing factor to the health of Your church body. Help me 
to discover and use the spiritual gifts You have given me.”

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