One Body, Many Parts

By: Lisa Boisvert

Wednesday, August 19, 2026

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Romans 12:4-5

When I was a child, my uncle gave me a Barbie doll. I said thank you, then I cut Barbie’s hair off right in front of him! I was disappointed with his gift, and I showed it by acting like a brat. As an adult, I can only imagine how disappointed my uncle must have been to see the contempt I showed for his carefully chosen gift. Even as a child I knew better, but I felt my actions were justified because it wasn’t what I wanted! Instead, I wanted what my best friend had.

Have you ever looked at someone and thought, I wish I had their gift? That gift could be a special talent in music, the fine arts, or writing. Or maybe you wish you had the gift of hospitality, faith, evangelism, or teaching. Honestly, a list of the gifts we wish we had could be lengthy. But God's Word says we are all given different gifts to help the Body of Christ (His church) thrive. The scriptures also remind us that those gifts are equally important.

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12

Instead of grumbling about the gifts we don't have, we need to rejoice about the gifts that we do have. But we can't just "sit on" our gift, we must use it to glorify God. When we use our carefully chosen, divinely assigned gifts, it pleases the Lord. Why? Because He created us to praise Him and to serve Him, and using our spiritual gifts is how we put serving Him into practice.

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 12:18-20

Everyone in the Body of Christ has been given spiritual gifts that were chosen for them by God. So, our gifts and talents aren't random; they are assigned to us by our Heavenly Father. Delight in your gift and rejoice that you are fulfilling your divine calling! Instead of coveting the gifts of others, let's use what we do have to bless others!

Christ-follower, make sure to use your divinely appointed spiritual gifts!