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READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-27; 1 PETER 4:10-11\n\n\n\nWhen was the last time you hurt one of your fingers? It happens often\u2014 it\u2019s so easy to accidently cut, bruise, break, or burn our fingers, and then we have to figure out how to do everyday things like eat or write or drive with a hurting or bandaged finger while we wait for it to heal. We don\u2019t tend to think about our fingers much\u2026until we can\u2019t use them. Then we see how much we really need them. They\u2019re way more important than we\u2008ever knew!\n\n\n\nAnd God says that\u2019s exactly how it is with the believers who make up His church. All the people who trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior are referred to as \u201cthe church,\u201d or \u201cthe body of Christ,\u201d and every single member is important\u2014just like every part of our physical bodies is important. Each person has a job to do for the body to function properly.\n\n\n\nIf we exclude members of the body of Christ because we think they have nothing to offer, it\u2019s like we\u2019re operating with a broken finger. But, if we stress that each person has a part to play in the church, more people will see how valuable and welcome they are.\n\n\n\nIn the same way, if we believe that we have nothing to offer the church, then we are limiting what the church can do. Do you think you\u2019re not really needed or maybe even able to serve Jesus? If so, you\u2019re wrong. Things you can do may seem small to you, but each part of the body of Christ is needed. Because, if you know Jesus, you have the Holy Spirit living in you. God has equipped and empowered you to serve, and you are a valuable part of His body. \u2022 A. W. Smith\n\n\n\n\u2022 Can you think of a time someone showed you Jesus\u2019s love? What was that like?\n\n\n\n\u2022 Throughout our lives, we may be able to build up the body of Christ in different ways. In this season of your life, what can you do to serve and show people Christ\u2019s love? What are some of your natural abilities and spiritual gifts? If you\u2019re not sure, who is a trusted Christian you know who could pray with you and help you discern how God has equipped you?\n\n\n\nNow you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27 (NIV)