What part of the Body are you?

But God will lift you up

1 Peter 5:2-6 Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly … Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care but lead them by your own good example. … All of you, serve each other in humility, for “God opposes the proud but favors the humble” [Proverbs 3:34]. So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.

1 Corinthians 12:25-26  All the members of the body care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

In an online group recently we were asked, “What part of the Body of Christ are you?” I found the responses fascinating. “Lungs: I help the Body breathe.” “Liver: I recognize and cleanse impurities.” “Shoulder: I offer comfort.” “Hands: I’m a fix-it person.”

Thursday I had the opportunity to speak to a group of Brazilian pastors online. The topic they had assigned me was “Living with grace through times of crisis.” Several dear friends were among the attendees. The pastor friend tasked with introducing me before my talk said, “Débora é tudo coração” (Debra is all heart). The example he gave? “She made cookies for me. She knew how much I liked them, so every time I was in her home in São Paulo, she would say to me, ‘You know where the cookie jar is. Help yourself.’”

Maybe my role in the Body of Christ is making cookies. Certainly, my grandchildren think that’s one thing I’m good for. I told Dave about this, and he said, “You haven’t made cookies for me for a long time!” So, before I left Friday for a weekend in-person retreat (this one in English), I made him cookies. With raisins, his favorite. I hoped he would feel my love while I was gone, while he led a virtual retreat in Spanish for leaders from five countries.

Don’t you love those Holy Spirit moments when it’s clear the Holy Spirit directed the thought and empowered the action, simple or humble as it may be? I miss opportunities all the time because I’m too focused on my own stuff and not listening very well. But those special moments when we see the Holy Spirit at work, we do feel lifted up. And very grateful.

What role do you play in the Body of Christ? And who is part of the “flock” God has entrusted to you?