Brains, bladders, and the body of Christ

If you had walked into the gymnasium that afternoon, you may have wondered what horrific crime had taken place. There were the bodies of an entire fourth grade class outlined all over the gym floor. But, this was no crime scene ­— it was our big science project, and it thrilled me.
Fourth grade was my favorite year in school. I never made great grades in school; I could usually do the work well, but ended up bombing tests. Unfortunately for me, tests were a sizable portion of my grade. Therefore, I was an average student on the grade spectrum.
I figured a C was good enough since my name started with a C. C for Cassie should please my momma, right!? I believe that’s rational thinking. And, turns out I wasn’t too far off in my thinking. Momma loved the As, but she also loves her average Cassie.
Back to fourth grade; my teacher that year caused me to LOVE learning. I had never LOVED learning until Mr. Mizell showed me a fresh way of learning — hands-on learning and the crime scene in the gymnasium was part of that.
I can remember the first day of school that year. I walked in to find stations full of learning games, a reading nook with a view and a cute little library. Mr. Mizell even parked my desk next to close friends, and it looked like this year was going to be different.
Fourth grade was a turning point for my learning; it taught me that learning for me comes by doing.
I can still remember my excitement as my lab partner traced my body on the giant slice of paper in the gym that day. I couldn’t wait to learn about the human body and placing organs where they go. It was as though I was the surgeon of my body. The heart goes there, and the spleen here. What I didn’t realize is that there are SO many organs, 78 major organs to be exact, and that they ALL play a part in the body. Without one of them, nothing works as it should. Crazy! Right!?
The same is true of Christ’s body. Which is made up of you and I, him and her.
But, do you know what I see happening in the body of Christ?
There are many of us that stop working because we feel so insignificant. We have stopped believing we are needed and wanted in the body. We buy the lie that we aren’t enough and surely the body of Christ needs more than we can offer.
It’s easy to believe if we’re the heart, we are needed. If the heart stops, the whole thing dies. The heart is SUPER important, right!
But, what if you’re the bladder or the nasal cavity, the snot shooter as some many say (not me but some). I bet if you took a body part poll, most people would opt for something more appealing, like the brain. Who wants to be a nose hole? Few.
But in 1 Corinthians, we find Paul encouraging the church that God has placed each part in the body just as he wanted it to be. Wait. What?
YES!
He created you on purpose and to serve a purpose in the body of Christ. Brain, bladder, nose or knee, you have a purpose!
21 The eye can’t say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”
22 In fact, it is just the opposite. The parts of the body that seem to be weaker are the ones we can’t do without.
23 The parts that we think are less important we treat with special honor. The private parts aren’t shown. But they are treated with special care.
24 The parts that can be shown don’t need special care. But God has put together all the parts of the body. And he has given more honor to the parts that didn’t have any.
25 In that way, the parts of the body will not take sides. All of them will take care of one another.
26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. If one part is honored, every part shares in its joy.
27 You are the body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of it. (1 Corinthians 12:21-27, NIV)
Friend, it doesn’t matter if you spread God’s love as a pastor or a trash man, as the brain or the bladder. You are important to the body, and it will not function properly without you. The body needs you; it needs me, and it needs them!
This journey with Jesus is NOT a competition — it’s a community. We need one another to rejoice and suffer together, to encourage and cry together. We are ONE body and everyone is needed. If you’re the bladder, be the best bladder you can be. If you’re the brain, be the best brain you can be. Let’s work together — without you, the body doesn’t work how it meant to.
Friend, take a moment and think about your place in the body of Christ.
Knowing the truth that the body doesn’t work properly without you; what can you do today to make sure the body functions the way God intended? I believe in you! Let’s work together.
Be the body, friend! We all need you.
Cassie Downs, formerly of the Ellsinore area, is a speaker, author of Chasing Jesus, a 60 day devotional, and founder of Everyday Jesus Ministry. Connect with Cassie on Facebook, Instagram, or online at cassiedowns.com.