No Nobodies

A leper colony

A visitor was being shown around a leper colony in India. At noon a gong sounded for the midday meal. People came from all parts of the compound to the dining hall. All at once sounds of laughter began to fill the air. They were laughing at two young men, one riding on the other’s back, were pretending to be a horse and a rider and were having loads of fun.

As the visitor watched, he saw that the man who carried his friend was blind, and the man on his back was lame. The one who could not see used his feet; the one who could not walk used his eyes. Together they helped each other, and they found great joy in doing it.

A church like that

Imagine a church like that—each member using his or her strength to make up for another’s weakness. That’s what should be happening in every gathering of believers.

Each believer is given continuous revelation by the Holy Spirit to benefit not just himself but all…He has done this intentionally so that every member would look after the others with mutual concern, and so that there will be no division in the body. (1 Cor. 12:7, 25, TPT)

Paul likened spiritual gifts to various parts of the human body. Eyes see. Ears hear. Hands work. Feet move the body forward. All are essential, and when each fulfills its function, the whole body benefits. All of us have weaknesses, but we also have strengths. God’s Spirit has gifted each of us for the good of the church. We need each other. In the church, there are no “nobodies.”