The art of being PRESENT

PRESENT IN YOUR PLACE

The body! Isn’t it a wonderful image that Paul used, writing to the Corinthian church all those years ago? It really gets the point across – we each have a unique, God-given purpose and part to play in the ‘body’ of His community. Makes you wonder what ‘body part’ you might be, doesn’t it?

Paul describes how ridiculous it would be if one body part decided it wanted to do the role of another, also noting how the whole body suffers when not all the ‘parts’ are present. The church operates best when all the parts of its ‘makeup’ are present and working.

One of the best things about taking your place in the community of God’s people is the journey of discovering your unique purpose. Unified by a cause so much greater than ourselves – the cause of Christ – provides us with an opportunity to use what God has placed in our hand for His glory and to be a blessing to others.

Take a moment today to write down your gifts and passions. Talk to God about how you can develop them and use them to bless others and build His church. Ask Him to help you find the right ‘place’ in His community so that you are not just present, but present in your ‘place.’

BUT IN FACT GOD HAS PLACED THE PARTS IN THE BODY, EVERY ONE OF THEM, JUST AS HE WANTED THEM TO BE. IF THEY WERE ALL ONE PART, WHERE WOULD THE BODY BE? AS IT IS, THERE ARE MANY PARTS, BUT ONE BODY.

1 Corinthians 12:18-19 (NIV)