1 Corinthians 12:18-20 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body.

First allow me to point to something obvious, the most readily identifiable parts of the body of Christ are those closest to the head. The eye, the ear, the mouth are seen to be close to the head which is Jesus Christ. We all want to be seen as being close to Christ. A personal relationship is the foundational principle of Christianity. These are the easiest roles within the body to understand how they fit within the functioning of the body.

If I were to tell you that your name is Opponens Pollicis, would you consider yourself an important part of the body of Christ? It is not a famous name. You cannot tell of your function within the body by name. What if I were to tell you that without you the thumb would become useless? That would be a tragedy. The truth is that there are many more support functions in the body of Christ than the commonly named and easily identified.

We do an injustice to the whole body to identify the eye, ear and mouth as having more value than the rest just because they are easily understood. But how does that help you understand where God has set you within the body as indicated by verse 12:18 above? Let me use the human body again as the example. No single muscle within the body performs its function alone. It is a part of a system which operates in conjunction with other body parts.

Your role in the body is discovered in fellowship.

1 Corinthians 12:22-23 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Have you ever noticed that the older and more productive branches grow thicker and look more and more like the vine? They are still the branches, they are not the vine, but over time it becomes harder to distinguish where one leaves off and the other begins.

Such is the abiding presence of us in Christ. The secret of that gradual and steady change is in the abiding. If you do not abide, you stop growing. If you stop growing, you stop being productive.

1 John 2:14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

Have you ever said, “I’ve read the bible.” Not in the sense that it is part of your daily experience but as a thing done in the past. That isn’t abiding in the word. We are human and therefore subject to decay. Our minds will remember selectively, without accuracy, without relevance if it is not refreshed continually.

Acts 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

Do not tell yourself that you are not an apostle and therefore this word does not apply to you. Until you discover who you are in Christ, never say to yourself, this does not apply to me. That is cutting off the source of spiritual growth before you come of age to discover who you are in Christ.

Life can be very frustrating and the enemy is trying to keep you from becoming that most effective tool for Christ. Even if you discover your identity, Satan seeks to dull you. Do not forsake the reading of the word. Do not forsake discipleship and accountability.