Do Your Job

Just do your job.

“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, all its parts form one body. The same is with Christ, as we were all baptized by one Spirit to form one body. The body is not made up of one part, but of many. If the foot were to say ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong,’ it would not, for that reason, stop being a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be, or if it were all an ear, where would the sense of smelling be? God placed all the parts in the body exactly where He wanted them to be. There are many parts, but only one body.”

-1 Corinthians 12:12-20 (paraphrased)

Hope you brought comfy shoes, because we’re gonna be doing a lotta walking today. Collectively, but individually as well. That is to say, we are learning to run our own race, not the race of our friends, our neighbors, or our—dare I say—competitors. We must each run our own race so that we each understand our own purpose.

Ah, the age-old question. What is the purpose of life? What is the purpose of me?

The good news: As Christians, we know the answer to the first question (Matthew 28:16-20). We may even have an idea of the second. Where we trip up is . . . how do we achieve said purpose?

Ephesians 4:15-16 states that through mutual edification, we as believers will become the mature body of Christ, who is the head. We will be held together, growing in love, as each part does its own work.

Do your job.

There’s that confusing bit again. How do I know if my calling is that of a foot or a hand or an elbow or an ear?

And once I figure it out, what do I do with it?

In Ephesians 4:1, Paul urges us to live a life worthy of the calling we have received.

There’s a hint in that sentence. Starts with an “r.”

If we have received our calling, then that means it’s already been given to us. We didn’t earn it, ask for it, or have to go far to find it. We just have to accept what’s been given and live a life worthy of such a gift.

Comfy shoes on? We must walk before we run. We must go through life knowing we don’t have to earn what Christ has already given, and live accordingly.

Embracing the light, embracing our neighbor, living the truth and loving like Jesus.

There’s a quote in my Bible from Gail MacDonald: “Jesus did not take volunteers as disciples. He put His finger on each one because He saw potential in them.”

Friend, the same is true of you and me.

Apostles, prophets, evangelists, preachers, teachers, and pastors . . . all chosen by Jesus first. All gifted a calling, a mission field.

Choir leaders. Musicians. Brothers and sisters. Friendly smiles and warm hugs. All of these are not unqualified to be used as gifts in loving the Lord’s children.

Every saint receives a role.

Wishing yours was different won’t change it, lessen its value, or eliminate it. It’ll simply exist, unfilled and waiting on you to embrace it. To step into your God-assigned role in the body of Christ and serve.

(Ephesians 4:10-16)

Embracing that we’ve been created by a perfect God, gifted from His perfect hands, and saved by His perfect Son who calls us to work alongside Him takes us directly to Christ.

And it’s there at the feet of the Savior that the answer really becomes quite simple.

What is my purpose?

To use whatever talents I’ve been given to grow in Christlikeness, to glorify the Kingdom rather than self-gratification.

To embrace our unearned, yet freely given worthiness and stand on it.

Boldly. Confidently.

James 1:6 warns that the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

We avoid this doubt by keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus. You saw what happened to Peter when he took his eyes off Christ and instead focused on the water beneath him and the coming storm. (Matthew 14:30-31)

Lock in, church family.

Justice dropped some wisdom to close the sermon Sunday, and if your blood is red, it’s a real gut punch.

Here it goes:

“Every day, evil wakes up with the intent to make the world a worse place—why aren’t we waking up with the intent to make it better?”

So Christians, why aren’t we? We have been chosen by the God who makes no mistakes, appointed our gifts, assigned our mission fields, and called to serve.

Whether you think you do or not, you matter. Your gift matters. Your contribution matters. Ankle or elbow or finger or nose, your role is yours, and without your participation, you leave the body lacking.

Put on your shoes.

Anchor your walk.

We got a race to run.