There are no cookie cutter Christians!

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. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free — and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 1 Cor 12:12-13 NIV

This passage, along with the surrounding words, and Romans 12 as well, has played a huge part in helping me understand my identity in Christ.  These passages are actually about the functions of the members of the body of Christ (what each member "does"), but the functions are based upon our identity in Christ.  "We were all given the one Spirit to drink," for example.  Our common identity revolves around life in the Spirit.

Whatever we do within the body of Christ, it flows from who we are.  And not just who we are individually, but who we are together - as many diverse members making up one body unit (one identity).  My eye is very different from my hand is very different from my liver is very different from my knee... but all the individual parts make up one body.  And each part, though different, is equally important to the body as a whole.

For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Rom 12:4-5 NKJV

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. Rom 12:6 NIV

There are no "cookie cutter Christians."  There are many parts.  Many different parts.  Many unique parts.  Not all function in the same way - not all do the same things - and that's a very good thing!  YOU are a very unique member of the body of Christ, and you are meant to be that way!  God made you the way you are, very purposefully.

Within the body of Christ, we are all meant to be different, unique, and yet making up the same body.  Some people give more, some people work more, some people have more money and earthly possessions, some are quiet, some are loud, some are gifted with words, some are gifted in cooking, some are gifted in hospitality, some are gifted with humor, some are gifted in ways that are very outward and noticeable, some are gifted in ways that will never been noticed by most people.

Some are teachers, some are businessmen, some are journeymen, some are entrepreneurs, some are beneficiaries of large estate.  Some pray more, some get their hands dirty more, some like to sing, some don't care to sing, some enjoy large crowds and parties, some prefer more time alone.  Some are great encouragers, some are natural leaders, some are great at explaining doctrine, some don't enjoy "doctrine talk" at all.

This little list is very insufficient in covering the wide range of diverse parts in the body of Christ, but hopefully it makes the point that we're all different, and it's good... oh so good!  We have different joys, different desires, different paths to take.  And very often our paths meet and we find people with common joys and desires and we join together in great fellowship.  Other times we find ourselves in groups of people with different joys and desires, and we find ourselves working together, using all of our unique gifts and talents for the common good.

And throughout our lives, so much of this can and does change.  And that's a good thing too!  I don't think we're meant to be fixed statically in every last thing about our personalities.  It's good when we change!

Whatever your part in the body of Christ, be content there.  Not sure who you are (identity) or what "part" you are?  Seek the Lord.  Ask Him to show you who you are (your identity) and who you are within the context of the body of Christ. And along with that take a simple, ongoing survey of your life. I don't necessarily mean a deep, introspective look.  Just look at your life and take note of the things you like doing.  What turns you on?  What makes you tick?  What things about your personality and 'ways' are beneficial to others?  How do the things you do benefit the body as a whole (whether other people understand it or not).  Don't worry and fret that you're not something that someone else is.  Don't project who you are onto someone else, as if they should be like you!  And don't let anyone do that to you!