One Body, Many Parts

I’ve spent some proud moments this summer in a tractor seat baling hay.  The roar tractor’s diesel engine and the rhythm of the baler provide the perfect metronome for my thoughts.  As the tractor pulls the baler over each windrow of hay, I’m mindful of the awesome technology involved in this age-old chore.  The baler, the loud machine behind me, has so many parts that must function together to make a bale of hay.   All these are essential:  the fly-wheel, pick-up tines, centering auger, stuffer, plunger, knotter mechanism and many more.  A fly wheel can’t pick up the hay from the row.  The plunger can’t wrap and knot the twine.  Each part relies on the others to get the job done.  It’s like that for those of us in Christ, too.  Read what Paul wrote us in Romans chapter 12:

⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

We are to humbly serve each other using the gifts the Holy Spirit has given us.    We each need what the others bring.  Let’s use our gifts; the others are counting on us!