Every Part Matters. No Exceptions.

I have liked mechanical watches since I was a little boy. My first watch was a Timex. I kept it for years … until my brother took it to school and sold it. One day, I noticed another kid on the playground wearing a watch with a strap just like mine. At home later that day, I discovered mine was missing. The watch that kid was wearing WAS mine! Or rather, it used to be.

Every part in a mechanical watch movement matters. Nothing is insignificant or random. It cannot run without every tiny, intricate, delicate part–and parts are not interchangeable from one movement (called a calibre) to another. This is what I thought about as I read today’s Scripture passage. Paul compares us to parts of a body. I see this comparison as fitting a watch calibre as far as each indispensable part’s uniqueness is concerned.

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body–whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free–and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged 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 Cor 12:12-14,17-20 NIV)

The Body of Christ, the ecclesia (often translated as “church”), is like the intricate parts of a watch calibre. All serve a specific function, and all are necessary for the watch to run.

Another significance is that every tiny part of that calibre is designed and engineered intentionally to fit precisely where it belongs. The tiniest screw is as important as the escapement, balance wheel, mainspring, or crown.

This is as we are in the Body of Christ. We each fulfill a function for which we are uniquely designed. We each are intentionally engineered for what and where God has for us to be. The tiniest of us is necessary. No part or person is random or unnecessary.

The way you fit is precisely how God engineered you to fit. You may not understand this right now, but then, understanding is not a requisite for trust and faith. Understanding will come in time. As you trust Him, He will have you where you need to be, doing what you need to do, where you need to do it, and with whom you need to do it.

And if you do not now know those details, trust Him and you will discover them when the time is right.

We had a conversation with someone last night who received some news that some could find disturbing. She did not. We talked about Psalm 139 and how she is fearfully and wonderfully made by God (verse 14) and how all the days ordained for her were recorded by Him before one of them came to be (verse 16). She is uniquely made by God to be what He needs her to be and to function as she functions. She will read this message, so let me say:

“T., we are proud of you for trusting God’s wisdom in how he “put you together” (verse 15). There is no one in all existence–before or after–like you.”

The same goes for each person reading this message. You too are uniquely designed, engineered, and placed by God to be precisely what you need to be. You may not understand this … yet. You may even resent some things about yourself–but don’t. Set your heart in faith to trust God that your purpose will be revealed at the right time and in the right way according to His wisdom and choice.

We are all different, each unique in our differing ways, yet we are all under God’s care and authority, created for His purpose. He planned our who, what, where, and when. Thank Him for your purpose and appreciate His purpose in those who are different from you, for we are all of one body in Jesus.