So yesterday I was working in the kitchen when I accidentally got a small cut on the tip of my middle finger. No big deal—a little peroxide and a band-aid and I was back to the task at hand. Okay, I did ask Jamie if he thought I needed stitches. After laughing at me, he assured me that the small sliver would heal over quickly—which it has. (Hypochondriacs Anonymous anyone???). Today, you can barely see the cut. There’s just one issue: because of where it is located, every time I have to use my right hand I am very much aware of it. It rubs every time I hold a pen, hold a knife or fork, or go to grab something. Even typing this is difficult because the band-aid is a little bulky causing me to hit the wrong key from time to time. Still, I need the band-aid because this small spot literally hits everything. Needless to say, I am suddenly very aware of the importance of the tip of my middle finger. Yet can I be honest with you? Until yesterday, I can’t say that I ever gave this part of my anatomy much thought. I’ve never stressed about how it looked, whether or not it was getting fat or wrinkly. I’ve never even really considered how reliant I am on it. It’s just there. Well, today things have changed! Suddenly I’m very aware of just how important it is and very aware of the role that it plays in my life every day. When it’s hurt, life is definitely more difficult. This morning as I was washing my hair, (and trying not to ruin yet another band-aid by getting it wet), I started thinking about the spiritual implications of my minuscule injury. I was reminded of Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 12 that says,
The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don’t, the parts we see and the parts we don’t. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance. (1 Corinthians 12:25-26 the Message)
In these verses, Paul compares the church (everyone who is a Christian) to the human body to teach the important truth that everyone has a God-given role to play in the kingdom of God. While each person’s role is individual and unique, Paul is quick to point out that no role is greater than or less than any other. Every person is important. Every person is necessary. Everyone has a vital role to play in God’s kingdom. We all have our own assignments. Each of us has our own sphere of influence—people God has placed in our lives so that we can influence them for Him. This sphere begins with our family, extends to our friends, neighbors and the people at our jobs. Growing even further, our sphere of influence includes every person we come in contact throughout our lives. These are all people God has called us to love and to reach with the Gospel message. Our purpose in life is to recognize and fulfill God’s unique plan for our lives. God needs us to play our part so that the entire kingdom can function to the best of it’s ability. And yet, so often as women we get caught in the trap of seeing our role as insignificant. We look at other women and their lives and say, “Wow! She’s really making a difference. I’m nothing compared to her.” And yet, nothing could be further from the truth. It’s just lie the enemy wants to use to keep you from fulfilling your purpose. The absolute truth is that you are important. You are significant. The kingdom of God needs you to fulfill your role just as much as it needs others to fulfill their role. Look at how Paul says it:
“I want you to think about how all this makes you more significant, not less. A body isn’t just a single part blown up into something huge. It’s all the different-but-similar parts arranged and functioning together. If Foot said, “I’m not elegant like Hand, embellished with rings; I guess I don’t belong to this body,” would that make it so? If Ear said, “I’m not beautiful like Eye, limpid and expressive; I don’t deserve a place on the head,” would you want to remove it from the body? If the body was all eye, how could it hear? If all ear, how could it smell? As it is, we see that God has carefully placed each part of the body right where he wanted it. (1 Corinthians 12:14-18 the Message)
In this verse, we see that no matter how “small” or “great”, “important” or “unimportant” our role in God’s kingdom appear to us, in God’s eyes, your role is significant. It’s important—it’s vital—-it’s absolutely necessary. Without you, the kingdom of God, the church, cannot complete it’s mission. Today I want to encourage you: Don’t believe the lie of the enemy who wants to tell you that you are unimportant, that your calling or mission field is small, that it doesn’t matter, that you don’t matter. Instead, believe the truth of the Bible and walk in the confidence that you are called by God to fulfill a unique purpose. There are things only you can do today and people only you can reach. Then boldly walk in your calling, representing Jesus to the world. Be the woman God has called you to be and make a difference in your world. Remember: even the smallest light is still a light. When your stumbling in the dark, even the smallest light shines like a beam! You are important!!!!! Take that knowledge and go change your world!!!
--Adessa To Learn More About Discovering and Fulfilling Your God-Given Purpose, Read Our New Book:
