Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Foreign.
[00:00:05] Hey, everybody. Pastor Chuck Allen here with another weekday podcast. And thanks so much for spending a few minutes with me today. I've been thinking a lot about this image that the apostle Paul gives us in First Corinthians, chapter 12.
[00:00:17] This is where he says, all of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it. It just rolls off the tongue so easily, right? I mean, we are the body of Christ.
[00:00:29] But then you pause and you think, dude, what does that actually mean? I mean, it's easy to celebrate the parts that we notice and the parts that we like.
[00:00:40] Sometimes it's the folks on stage. Sometimes it's the ones who pray with power.
[00:00:45] Sometimes it's those who sing like angels. Sometimes it's those who visit us in times of need.
[00:00:51] But Paul says every part matters, even the sore ones, the quiet ones, the parts that don't make it into the spotlight and often make it more awkward than it should be.
[00:01:03] But the truth is, the body of Christ isn't a perfect machine. It's just not.
[00:01:10] It's more like this messy, miraculous group of people trying to love and heal each other as we follow Jesus in this messy togetherness.
[00:01:21] And it's such a relief, isn't it? I mean, it should be. It should be a relief to us that we don't have to have it all figured out. And it doesn't have to be perfect and it doesn't have to be ideal that our imperfections don't disqualify us. They actually make us need each other more.
[00:01:40] Maybe you're listening today and you feel insignificant, like the pinky toe on the body of Christ. But listen, if you even the pinky toe helps keep the whole thing balanced. Your presence matters, your gifts matter, your passions matter. And the way you show up, it matters.
[00:02:01] So here's a small step to take today. Look around and pick one person who might feel unseen.
[00:02:07] Send them a note, send them a text. Just a simple, hey, I see you. You matter. You, and I'm grateful for you.
[00:02:16] That's what the body of Christ does. We remind each other that we really belong.
[00:02:22] Friends, you don't need a platform to make an impact. You just need to care. Because when you do, you're helping keep the body healthy.
[00:02:33] I want to say that again.
[00:02:35] You don't need a platform to make an impact.
[00:02:38] You just need to care.
[00:02:39] Because when you do, you're helping keep the body healthy.
[00:02:43] I sometimes think we just need T shirts that say, number one, care.
[00:02:48] Number two, love God.
[00:02:52] Number three, don't be a jerk.
[00:02:55] Maybe our prayer should be, lord, thank you that you knit us together different and perfect and yet equally vital. Teach us to love the parts of your body that we've been avoiding.
[00:03:06] And help us see how your small faithful acts can use our small faithful acts to build something beautiful. Because you're always bigger than we could imagine.
[00:03:17] Amen, friend. Today, go live in that truth that you matter.
[00:03:23] You matter to God.
[00:03:25] You matter to each other. And by the way, those other people, they matter to God. Bless you. Have a great day.
