Iron Rose Sister Ministries

Written by Melanie Curtis

Although as a Christian I know I am a part of the body of Christ, sometimes I feel like I’m not a very important part. Paul states we are all important when he speaks about the body in 1 Corinthians 12:21-27:

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, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

At times I have found this hard to accept. When I fail or am rejected by others, I feel useless or unimportant. But this is simply not true! We must listen less to the world’s rejections and more to God’s voice through His inspired Word, the Bible, to remember we are all valuable in His sight:

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39)

Does that sound like we are useless? Absolutely not! It is Satan, not God, that plants in our heads the lies of worthlessness. So how does this relate to the human body? Are the seemingly insignificant body parts actually more useful than we realize? Let’s take a look at some examples.

1. Hair isn’t just for beauty! It is actually useful for body temperature regulation (e.g., goose bumps). Even thin hair is a small form of insulation for our body. In the winter, normal head hair can keep heat from escaping from our heads, where we would normally lose a lot of our body heat. Eyebrows and eyelashes can protect our eyes from dust and debris. Nose hairs act as a trap for germs, pollen, and dust to protect our lungs, and may even lower the risk for asthma.

2. Nails may seem of little use other than cosmetic, seeing as many of us have lost a nail or more at one time in our lives. However, they protect our fingertips and toes, which are an extremely necessary part of normal daily activities. Fingernails help us to grab onto items easily. Not only that, but the health and appearance of your nails are an important indicator of certain diseases.

3. The appendix is no longer considered a useless body part! It has been found that it is a main source of IgA (an important antibody) in the digestive system. It protects against certain diseases and infections and helps the body regulate and restore the good bacteria in the gut.

Even looking at the examples above, we see that these “lesser” body parts are an important support and protection for the “greater” body parts. Not all of us can be in the spotlight, nor do we want to be. Even the heart has to be supported by the blood vessels to bring blood to the different parts of the body (including the heart itself!).

In the same way, those working behind the scenes are a huge blessing and a necessity in the body of Christ. This means we all support and rely on each other. We can apply this fact to ourselves and to those that we may be tempted to consider have a lesser job in the body of Christ, “For God does not show favoritism” (Romans 2:11), and neither should we.

References:

Everything You Need to Know About Nose Hair (December 9, 2019). Retrieved from https://health.clevelandclinic.org/nose-hair-safari-infographic/

The immunological functions of the Appendix: An example of redundancy? (March 2, 2018). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29503124

Why do we have hair and why in their specific locations on the body? (May 6, 1999). Retrieved from http://scienceline.ucsb.edu/getkey.php?key=3087

Your Nails. Retrieved from https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/your-nails.html

*Disclaimer: Everything written in this article is not meant to be used to substitute for medical recommendations or care from a professional. Please contact your professional medical provider if you have any questions or concerns regarding your health.

You may feel like the pinky fingernail of the body of Christ, but when the ear itches, you are the perfect one to take care of the problem.

The communion trays need to get filled. The unleavened bread does not make itself.
The third graders need class teachers. The bathrooms need cleaning. The widow longs for a visitor. The new mom is pulling her hair out and needs a break. The teenager needs encouraging.

There is no small part in the body. Many of the behind-the-scenes tasks of the church are thankless jobs, but they are no less valuable.

A recent commercial for a job placement company highlights the fact that though you weren’t the person to walk on the moon, there were many others who contributed to that effort. In the commercial, the person sweeping the floor is honored as a part of the team. The movie Hidden Figures celebrates the African American women who did many of the math calculations to ensure that every detail of the rocket and trajectory were correct.

After the national championship, Heisman winner Joe Burrow thanked many of the people who never saw the field, “So many people put so much work into this—from athletic trainers, equipment staff, players, coaches, chefs, dining room assistants.”

Whether in work, in sports, in the church, or on a project, every single person is an important member of the team. The face of the team may hold up the prize or receive the acclaim, but it would’ve been impossible had it not been for the many small parts others played along the way.

In the body and in the church, there are no small parts. What small part can you play today? What is a thankless task that is part of the big picture that you can contribute to?

Matthew 19:13-15
Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away.

See also 1 Corinthians 12:12-27.

Written by Johana Batres, Volunteer at Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Colorado Springs, CO.

"Now you are the body of Christ, and each is a member of that body." (1 Corinthians 12:27)

I invite you to read 1 Corinthians 12:20-27.

On one occasion a great friend and brother in Christ decided to go from Guatemala to Honduras to study at the Baxter Bible Institute. We bade him a farewell, in which we prayed and blessed him. When he returned after his graduation in Baxter, I noticed that he was missing the thumb of his left hand.

One day, on a bus, his finger was pressed by the doors and he lost it. I really appreciate this friend and brother, and I imagine it was difficult for him to lose his thumb. Without using your thumb, try brushing your teeth, buttoning a shirt, combing your hair, tying your shoes, or even eating. This chubby little finger of the body plays a key role.

The apostle Paul points out a similar scenario in the church. Those who tend to be less visible or less heard sometimes experience an "I don't need you" from others (1 Corinthians 12:21). Often this idea is reflected only in attitudes, but sometimes it is said out loud.

God calls us to show equal interest and respect for one another (v. 25). All believers are part of the body of Christ (v. 27), whatever gifts we have received, and we need each other. Some are eyes or ears, so to speak, and some are thumbs. But we all have a vital function in the body of Christ, the Church; and sometimes more than we think.

One very important thing to remember, Christ is the Head and no one else can be.

If you are an "eye", how can you encourage a "thumb?" If you think you are an insignificant member, memorize 1 Corinthians 12:27.

Written by Kath Bittner, volunteer of Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Colorado Springs, CO.

“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”(Ephesians 4:16)

Have you ever wondered about the little things in life? You know, those obscure things we would probably miss if faced with suddenly not having them. First sip of morning coffee. Fresh sheets. Grins. Earlobes. Good hair day. On the surface, these things appear to be inconsequential in the whole scheme of life. Yet we are often wholly dependent on these peripheral parts.

I am reminded of a time when I sprained my pinky toe on a coffee table. Before that moment, I would go each day without any mind to that particular toe. It was there, yes, but it never seemed to be of any real significance. After spraining it, though, I realized just how significant a part of my body it was. Walking was awkward. Wearing socks or shoes was agonizing. Pedicures fell by the wayside and my feet became calloused and dry. Foot rubs were a no-go, too. I missed them on those long days of chasing toddlers. And I felt life would be so much easier if the toe just wasn’t there. What good was it doing?

Sometimes as women, our spiritual life can feel like this. We may see our roles as insignificant to the whole body of Christ. Many times we serve behind the scenes as a church secretary, children’s or women’s bible class teachers, building custodian, communion preparers, etc. We may feel as though these are mundane parts, but they are as crucial to the work of God as any other in the church.

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.  There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.  There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)

No matter what part you play in the body of Christ, it is significant. The same Spirit that moves the preacher, song leader, elders and deacons, and even the apostles is the same Spirit that works in you. In whatever you do.

Women in the background have been renown throughout biblical history and were of great importance in the kingdom. Dorcas (Acts 9:36), Priscilla (Romans 16:3, Acts 18:26), and Mary Magdalene (Luke 8:1-3, Mark 15:40-41) all had meaningful parts in the life and work of Jesus.

“Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”(1 Corinthians 15:58)

How we do our part is much more important than what part we play. If our part is done “without selfish ambition or vain conceit” (Philippians 2:3) then whatever we do matters.

"God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.”(Ephesians 2:10)

Our part is important because the Lord God has called us to do it. There is no small part.

I wish I could be there for you Friday, but I have to work.
I wish I could give more money in support, but I just had to replace the tires on my car.
I wish I could visit the five other people in the hospital, but I only made it to visit one. Is that showing favoritism?
I wish I could make homemade cupcakes and healthy snacks for my kid’s class, but all I could do was pick up carrot sticks and a box of cookies.

Do you ever feel guilty for not doing enough? Do you ever feel judged by others for doing the wrong thing?

No one can do it all. We are not superwomen, nor are we expected to be.
And only God knows our heart and our motivations.

Check out the following story from Mark 14:3-9.

3 And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. 4 There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? 5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. 6 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. 9 And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”

In memory of this woman and in her honor, let’s celebrate those who “did what they could.” Jesus sees you. When you doubt yourself and when others seem to judge, remember this affirmation, “She did what she could.” Allow your best effort to be enough because God is the one who knows your heart and is the only one who is all-sufficient. He will make up the difference. God did what He could to make it possible for you to do what you can do—no less, no more.

Do not be discouraged if you feel that “all you can do” is your one small part. Every little bit makes a difference and together, through Christ, we can each do what we can.

Written by Rosa Perez, volunteer for Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Little Rock, AR.

As human beings, we have been created to connect with each other. Our existence pretty much depends on the relationship we make with one another. We can’t live isolated, otherwise, we could die. Therefore, we become part of something bigger than ourselves. We become part of a group in which we usually contribute. We become participants since we have gifts or abilities to offer. In our society, some of the groups that we know are schools, universities, and private or public businesses. Sadly, our society has composed these groups in a different way where people’s gifts are divided differently than what Jesus has taught us. We have divided people’s roles in levels of importance. Some roles are placed higher than others. For example, the role of the CEO is more important than the guard that opens and closes the door of the company. In our society, we don’t honor the small parts that people give humbly, but instead we diminish them and ignore them. Sometimes we diminish the small parts that people have in the church.

“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function.” (Romans 12:3-4)

The body of Christ, that is, the Church, has many members with different functions, since we have different gifts. Each gift is a blessing from God. We haven’t done anything to receive those gifts. In the same way, we shouldn’t brag about them or belittle others’ gifts.

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.” (Romans 6:12a)

We have an example in the gospel of Mark where a woman poured precious perfume over Jesus’s head. She, being a woman from a small town, gave costly perfume to Jesus. “She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial” (Mark 14:8). What she did was essential and very important. She was part of something really big. She contributed for the precious sacrifice that Jesus made for the entire world.

Like the woman that gave a small part for something really big, we also have small parts for something bigger than ourselves. That is what Jesus taught us when he talked about the Kingdom of God in Matthew 13: “Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches” (Matthew 13:32). From such a tiny seed, a huge tree grows so that even the birds can stand on it.

Small parts are important and can have great functions that sometimes we don’t realize. Consider the example James gives us, “Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go” (James 3:4).

We come to be part of something bigger than ourselves, and that is the Body of Christ. “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27). Each member of His Body, even the smallest ones, become part of his precious Body.

“So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” (Romans 12:5)