“The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up only one body. So it is with the body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12).

Have you ever injured a part of your body? On two separate occasions, after spraining my ankle, I had to be on crutches. As I was attempting to learn how to get around, using muscle groups differently than normal, one thing became clear: When one part of the body suffers, it makes it difficult for the rest of the body.

It’s true. Because I could not use my foot, I had to bear most of the weight on my other foot. The remaining weight was distributed through my arms and shoulders as I used the crutches. The rest of the body had to work much harder in order to allow the injured foot to recover.

The same is true in the body of Christ. As it says in 1 Corinthians, we are each a part of that body. We all have a part to play; God has given us each a gift in order to accomplish His purpose in the world. When one of us decides not to use what God has given us, it makes it difficult for the rest of the body to function the right way.

Everyone has a gift; everyone has a part to play in God’s plan for the world. This is true no matter what the role. In the body, some may say that the pinkie toe is insignificant. It is the smallest toe, and does not get tremendous attention. However, anyone who has ever hurt this toe knows how painful that can be, and how difficult it is to balance.

Here’s the good news: You have an important part to play, no matter how insignificant you feel. Some of you may feel like the pinkie toe. You may see others with extraordinary talents, and think, “I could never be like them!” You may think that you do not have anything to offer to God. Maybe others have told you that you are insignificant, and you started to believe them.

Every person made by God has a purpose for His Kingdom in this world. Every single person is important. Without you, the body suffers! You have something tremendous to offer! So don’t let anyone convince you that you have no purpose or significance. When God made you, he said, “This is good” (see Genesis 1; He says this about everything), and He gave you something that can touch the world.

People who doubt God often say something like, “If there’s such a loving God in the world, why does He allow so much suffering?” While the Bible talks about how sin entered the world, consider this: maybe God is allowing his people to take care of it. There is a story of a parish, which had a statue of Jesus. The statue’s arms had broken off, and they were considering repairs. Eventually, though, they decided not to make the repairs, but instead to put a sign that said, “Jesus has no hands and feet except you.”

You have something to offer! God has given you the skills, gifts, and people in your life to affect the situations around you. God is calling us, not to save the world by ourselves, but to join together as one body to bring people to Him.

Are you ready to be the hands and feet of Jesus to someone?

For further consideration:

What do you feel like you have to offer?

How can you use that for the body of Christ?