August 22 | Romans 12:4-6

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DAILY READING

Romans 12:4-6

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REFLECTION

Who’s the Armpit?

By Ken Dillman

God knows how to make a body!

A quick look at the six days of creation in Genesis, reveals that after God had made everything, including man, he proclaimed, “It was very good.” (Gen. 1:31) God’s construction of the human body was so profound, that he had the ability to take one part of it, a rib, and make another human being from it.

God does similar things with the Church; his desired construct for the Body of Christ is such that every single part serves a purpose and is necessary to the Body functioning properly and growing.

The apostle Paul writes in today’s passage that, “The members do not all have the same function.” Some of us are ears, some are eyes, some capillaries, and some are big toes.

Have you ever stopped to think that somebody has to be the armpit, the colon, and the kidneys of the Body of Christ? Somebody’s got to do the dirty work, the less desirable work, the unpleasant work of the Body of Christ. Paul writes about this saying, “And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty.” (1 Cor. 12:23)

You might be very special and don’t even realize it.

God knows how to make a body, whether it’s the magnificent human body, or the even more magnificent Body of Christ, and you and I fit into his construction perfectly. Many of us may not see ourselves that way; we don’t see ourselves as a pastor, elder, preacher, counselor, singer, musician, or other parts that seem to grab the attention on a regular basis in the Church.

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit…the same God who empowers them all in everyone.” (1 Cor. 12:4-6, Romans 12:6)

You just might be a nose hair in the Body of Christ, but your gift to the Body is to help keep it healthy; God has empowered you to do what nobody else can do in and for the Body of Christ.

Nearly twenty years ago I read a fascinating book titled Darwin’s Black Box, written by Dr. Michael Behe, a renowned biochemist. In his book, Dr. Behe speaks of “irreducibly complex systems” that make up the human body at the molecular level. Dr. Behe illustrates with a simple mouse trap, which has five parts (platform, hammer, spring, catch, and holding bar), that if any one part of the mousetrap is broken, absent, or non-working, the entire system cannot function as it was designed.

God designed the Body of Christ similarly; without each of us doing our part and purpose, the Body of Christ cannot function as Jesus intends it to.

You are needed by the Body.

We’re depending on you; “having gifts…use them” for the glory of God.

PRAYER

Father, you have made each of us special. Would you help those who don’t feel special to recognize the importance for what you have made them as part of the Body of Christ? Please empower them to serve the Body with excitement and joy.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

KEN DILLMAN

My wife, Karen and I have been attending UALC for 6-7 years and enjoy God's presence in our gatherings. We live in Hilliard; our three adult children live in Central Ohio. I am a retired Chaplain and Pastor, and enjoy writing, walking, jogging, and listening to live music. I appreciate the opportunity to write for the church’s devotionals.