City Life Starter

Written by Megan Meier

The Word

“As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable…Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

1st Corinthians 12:20-22, 27 (NIV)

“It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

Mark 4:31-32 (NIV)

Reflection

The pituitary (it wasn’t discovered until 1742, and if this was known in 50 A.D. Rome, I’d like to think Paul would have included it in his letter!) is a gland about the size of a kidney bean in the front of your brain. Most would think a body part of that size and ambiguity isn’t important enough to have a meaningful purpose, but they would be wrong. Super-wrong. The pituitary gland, despite its size, controls many functions, including but not limited to growth of muscles and bones, regulation of the thyroid (which controls metabolism, our energy levels), keeps blood glucose in check (too much causes nerve damage and too little can cause confusion and dizziness), and blood volume regulation (too much results in high blood pressure and swelling, too little causes fainting and even death) . Without the pituitary, we’d have a lot of problems!

Too many Christ-followers believe their talent is too small to have any impact. Or because it isn’t seen that it isn’t important. But they’re wrong. Super-wrong. “Little” things add up (the minuscule mustard seed becomes a tremendous tree!). And what we see on stage, whether it’s a play or dance or message, is the result of many, many hours of hard work from many, many people behind the scenes. 

Application

Do you feel like your talent is too small, too discreet, too unorthodox or too (fill in the blank)? Don’t be discouraged, there’s a place for you! God wouldn’t have given you competency in this area if He didn’t want you to use it. And don’t fall into the comparison trap, your journey is your own. 

Prayer

Dearest Jesus, thank You for making me the way I am. Thank You for the talents I have. Help me to invest in them for You and Your Kingdom. In Your name I pray, amen.