The Upper Room Daily Devotional of Nashville, Tennessee, United States "Differing Roles" for Wednesday, 20 September 2017 - Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-20
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1 Corinthians 12:12 For just as the body is one but has many parts; and all the parts of the body, though many, constitute one body; so it is with the Messiah. 13 For it was by one Spirit that we were all immersed into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free; and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
14 For indeed the body is not one part but many. 15 If the foot says, “I’m not a hand, so I’m not part of the body,” that doesn’t make it stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “I’m not an eye, so I’m not part of the body,” that doesn’t make it stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, how could it hear? If it were all hearing, how could it smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged each of the parts in the body exactly as he wanted them. 19 Now if they were all just one part, where would the body be? 20 But as it is, there are indeed many parts, yet just one body.
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As it is, there are many parts, but one body. (1 Corinthians 12:20 (NIV))
Our four grandchildren are blessed to have their other grandparents living close by. They pick them up from school, take them to ball games, and watch them when their parents go out on dates. Since my husband and I live several hours away, we are more the pop-in, pop-out type of grandparents. This has been difficult for me. I cannot participate in my grandchildren’s lives as often as I would like.
Only recently have I realized that our role is no less important even though it is different. In many ways, the body of Christ is the same; we all have different roles. Some of us are out front leading music, preaching, and chairing committees. Others serve more behind the scenes, cooking meals, working in the nursery, and decorating the sanctuary. One position is not more important than another.
God has called each of us to different roles in our families and in the body of Christ. When we embrace what God has called us to, we can move beyond comparisons to find abundant joy.
See photos from the author, here.
Nancy Todd with one of her grandkids
Nancy with her husband, Terry, and their grandchildren Riley, Chloe, and Owen
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Thought for the Day: Today I will embrace God’s unique calling for my life.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the variety of roles in the body of Christ. Help us to support each other as we serve you. In Christ’s name. Amen.
Prayer focus: Those searching for their calling
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