One day years ago I was on a walk, because I was unable to run due to a foot injury. Suddenly the Lord broke into my thoughts and caused me to see a picture of a body with many parts, but one of those parts was not functioning as it was designed, because it had an injury, and that injured part ended up influencing the way the whole body moved. I was overcome and went straight home and started writing.
You see, we, children of God, are that Body. The Body-of-Christ. And we all are a specific body part. But if one of us is injured, bruised, broken, lost, confused about our part, or not listening to the brain (the Head/Christ) then that hinders the growth, or health, and wholeness of the Body. But when all parts are responding to Christ and are healthy, doing the part God has called them to, then there is “unity and love.” Here is how Paul, by the Spirit, puts it: “he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,”…..[and instead of remaining as infants] Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love” (Eph. 4:11-13,15-16, emphasis mine).
So, when we are divided, or distracted, or unforgiving, or hurt and not dealing with it, or resentful, or disconnected (being dislocated from the Body) or not aware of the part we are, or have rejected our part, etc. Then we are sick and are carrying a virus which could spread, if we are unaware of the affect we have on the whole Body. Because, since we are the children of God, and are all individual parts of the Body because we all carry within us that one unique thing being, the HOLY SPIRIT, then we are all important, valuable, and necessary for the body to function in its proper way!
Now this “One Body Many Parts” thing though it does speak of the entire world of Christians, it more specifically speaks of the church body or community of believers where you belong or attend weekly. Now, I am NOT here to shame anyone into “serving” somewhere! I am here to simply say “you are valuable, needed, and you have a gift from God which is part of a greater whole.” But what that looks like in real time, in life, I have no idea. This is between you and God. It may be cooking meals, it may be building/fixing things, it may be hugging and comforting the broken, it may be praying, singing, prophesying, speaking in tongues, wisdom, knowledge, encouraging, teaching, counseling, speaking, etc. You will know your gift because it will “move you” as you spend time with the Lord and in loving those around you.
But you yourself may need the rest of the parts of the Body to come around you at this time and minister health into your part so that you can be a healthy part ministering into other parts later. So, my point whenever I talk or write on this is NEVER, “get serving somewhere, or go help someone else, or you will help yourself by helping someone else, etc.” I have learned and experienced enough over the years to never “shame or guilt” someone into serving. Here is how it is, “Christ is yours, you are Christ’s. You bear the Spirit of Christ in you. Simply “allow” Him to lead your steps, according to how He has made you, and according to your specific gift and call within the Body-of-Christ.” I do not tell anyone “How” to serve. And as I said above: You may very well need healing in you first before you go to serve anyone else! But my point is still my point, that we are the Body-of-Christ, and we are all individual members of one another, and if we are to be healthy, growing, whole, and moving towards maturity, meaning “looking like Christ” and building ourselves up in LOVE then we have a part to play.
Lastly, I must say, when you are doing the part which God designed you to do, it is not “difficult,” because He gives the grace and power to do what He has called you to do.
Aletheia: Truth in the Darkness 