Let me be

I am what I am and that's all that I am, I'm Popeye the Sailor Man!

And in Christ, what "I am" is quite a lot! And what "I am" is quite unique. By the grace of God, I am what I am (1 Cor 15:10) and even if you try to shape me into something else I still am what God has made me to be and not necessarily what you want me to be. Also, you are what God has made you to be and not necessarily what I want you to be!

And this is GOOD!

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 12:18-20)

Paul is using the illustration of a human body to describe what God has done (and continues to do) collectively with all of us who are in Christ.

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. (1 Cor 12:12)

Who I am in the body is not who you are in the body. Who you are is not who I am. We are not who someone else is. But together, when we all are who we are, we form one body. And the body works.

But if I'm trying to be someone other than myself, or if someone is trying to be me, or if someone is trying to get you or me to be something else other that what we are, then things may not work so well.

Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? (1 Cor 12:29-30)

Do all do the same things I do? Do all do the same things you do? Does the big toe pump blood through the body? Does the elbow work to bend the ribcage? Is the body supposed to lift with its back??? Each part is unique and has its proper purposes, as well as limitations. Sometimes in ignorance, or out of envy, or for whatever other reasons, we'll try to "be" some other part of the body, or we'll expect others to "be" like the part that we are. But the Head of Christ's body - Jesus Himself - will never send the wrong signals to the wrong parts of the body to do the things that they were not created to do within the body.

So let me "be." And I'll let you "be." Together, as we "be," the members of the body will work together as one body. And please, encourage me in who I am. And I'll encourage you in who you are.