1 Corinthians 12:12,15-18
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 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 placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.
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With over six billion people in the world, it’s easy to feel overshadowed. We step into the world to find people who look like us, dress like us, talk like us, and even act like us. It’s so easy to feel like we drown in the sea of people.
When we try to be unique in the world on our own, we find ourselves shaped by public opinion. We want to be unique, yet we want to fit in. No one wants to be unique in a negative way. So we look at fashion trends and popular culture, and spend time figuring out how to be different in a popular way. The problem is, we’re still relying on pre-approved worldly notions of what uniqueness is. It is only when we turn to Christ and live according to His standards, when we let Him define who we are, that we find our unique identities.
When we seek our identities in Christ, we realize our uniqueness comes from the different gifts and missions we have been given. As 1 Corinthians 12 points out, we cannot say one person is more valuable than another, as we are all parts of the body and we need each body part. We are each uniquely put here with our own sphere of influence, our own mission from God, and our own special gifts. No one can replace us, for God has chosen us specifically for His perfect will. And just as we cannot walk without the cooperation of the legs and brain, we also cannot move forward in our mission without cooperation from the rest of the body of believers.
As we use our unique gifts in the world, we should remember that it’s not about what we want to do. It’s not about where we want to go or how we want to get there. We need to let God guide our steps so that we are living according to His master plan. If we live in His will, we can be sure that we are heading in the right direction. We do not need to see the end, just far enough to know where to step next. “And never a moment too soon, You show me that there’s a way. And with each step I take, You will make the next one become clear.”
God’s master plan never ceases to amaze me. For we are one body, yet individual parts. We are unified and one, yet still distinct and many. He gives us a group so we can watch out for each other yet allows each of us our own role. We have unique experiences, personalities, and interests. From the outside, it looks like one being, one body, but when we take a closer look, we can see the parts that make it beautiful–the fingers, the toes, the eyes, the strands of hair.
Only when we lose ourselves, allowing God to take over and make us who we are in Him, can we be who He created us to be. It’s in this irony, this seemingly contradictory act, that we establish our faith in Him and allow Him to make us unique.
Chasen Callahan explains, “God has put us and made us, shaped us and formed us in his image. We’re not just one in a million; we are something special to God.” While you’re not just another number in the crowd, you are uniquely you. And in that way you really are, irreplaceably, one in a million.
Offer your input: What makes you unique?
To hear more of what Chasen has to say about the song, watch the video below. Also, check out the song & album on iTunes here and scroll down for the lyrics. Thanks for reading!
Lyrics:
Verse 1
What am I waiting for
Standing still when I should be moving
In front of an open door
I forgot what I thought I was proving
Lay down these thoughts that I take up again and again
Chorus
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
I’m holding on now
Even though my world
Is upside down
Break the chains of my doubt
And set me free
Cause I know as I stand right here to you I’m not
Just one in a million
Verse 2
I don’t know what to do
At least that’s what I keep on saying
And never a moment too soon
You show me that there’s a way
And with each step I take, you will make the next one become clear
Bridge
I know I don’t have to stay right here
Cause wherever I go I know you’re there
