Ephesians 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

When you were a child, did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? I wanted to pitch for the Boston Red Sox. It wasn’t a serious dream, I never went beyond the fantasy stage. Most people don’t end up with the jobs they dreamed of having. Skills, education and opportunity play a bigger role than desire.

Some of us don’t find our place in life until after college and those school years helped us learn what we would like to do in life. Perhaps not, perhaps you wanted to follow in dad or mom’s footsteps.

When it comes to being a member of the body of Christ we often have those same feelings. We are unsure of our gifts, our talents, or what training is available. We think of ourselves as doctor, lawyer, engineer, policeman, contractor where our job is our identity. Not so in the body of Christ.

Many times we struggle with fitting in because we don’t have a proper understanding of how we fit into the body. We use our worldly experience of job finding and try to apply that to finding our place in Christ. Many of us struggle with that and end up feeling like “I’m just a toe in the body.” Maybe you are but are you aware of how much balance the toes provide in walking? Every part is important, every part needs to be connected to another part. But how?

Hebrews 12:2a Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;

Jesus, as the author, places you where He needs you and trains you up to perform according to His design. That design is to look like Jesus, to sound like Jesus, and walk like Jesus. In order to do that we have to stop making those choices about what we can and cannot do, what we will and will not do, and stop worrying about our image and seek His.

If you think you are struggling with that, let me encourage you. I see more of Jesus around me now than ever before.

Luke 6:1 And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.

If you don’t know me by now, let me tell you I love words. I love the deeper meanings, I love the personal relevance, and I really love how they connect me to God. Many words are repeated over and over in the bible. They can carry different meanings. Today I would like to point to the word rubbing in Luke 6:1. I found that it only occurs once in all the bible. I thought that was special considering how many words are contained in the bible. I am going to show you the root definition for rubbing for this is where we often find the deeper meanings. (pun intended)

Psallō

1) to pluck off, pull out

2) to cause to vibrate by touching, to twang

  a) to touch or strike the chord, to twang the strings of a musical instrument so that they gently vibrate

  b) to play on a stringed instrument, to play, the harp, etc.

  c) to sing to the music of the harp

  d) in the NT to sing a hymn, to celebrate the praises of God in song

Twang is an old country expression which fell out of use in the common language but when I saw it I laughed. Then I read “to touch or strike a cord” and I realized when I feed myself, as the apostles were doing here, that is something that happens in the spirit with me. The sound produced is music, harmony for worship.

My point here is that reading the word doesn’t always have to be serious. You don’t always have to be fearful of correction, you don’t always have to receive instruction. Sometimes all the Father wants to do is sit down, spend some time with you, laugh a little, find a little joy to share. Maybe the Father just wants to pluck the strings of your heart, to twang a little.