Embracing Our Place in the Body of Christ

As we journey through the season of Epiphany, we are reminded of the profound revelation of God’s presence in the world through the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Epiphany, which means "manifestation" or "revelation," celebrates the moment when God revealed the Son to the world—not as a distant figure, but as one of us. Emmanuel - God with us - reminds us that God views our humanness as something that is valuable and worthy of being treasured.

It can be hard to treasure the humanness of ourselves and others. Thankfully, God gives us a new lens for understanding our value in the words of 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a.

The Incarnation Reveals that Simple Gifts are Not Insignificant Gifts

In the same way that the incarnation of Jesus was an act of God choosing to enter into the world and experience life alongside us, our discipleship is about engaging in the world and embracing our unique callings alongside people whose callings are different than ours. Paul’s letter reminds us that we are not isolated individuals trying to live out our faith on our own. The body of Christ is interconnected, and each person’s gifts are essential for the church to function fully.

It’s important to note that Paul doesn’t say some gifts are better than others. He explains that they are all essential for the body to function. If we didn’t have all the parts of the body, the body wouldn’t be healthy and whole. We are not in the business of ranking our gifts as better or worse than others because all gifts are necessary for building up God’s kingdom.

Discipleship is an Invitation to Serve in Ordinary Ways

My toddler has developed a habit of naming the things she likes by saying she’s thankful. “I’m thankful for washing my hands. I’m thankful for Grandma. I’m thankful for snow. I’m thankful for purple.” In her innocence, she assumes that everything that she enjoys is something that is worthy of thanks and praise.

I don’t correct her from this habit, because in many ways, she understands gratitude better than I do. Why don’t I say I’m thankful when I look at my favorite color? When I like how I did my makeup that day, why don’t I praise God for finding pleasure in my body? My daughter has a gift of gratitude, and being a part of her life makes me a more grateful person. I need her presence in the body of Christ to live more faithfully in my own life.

Discipleship isn’t about grand gestures; it’s about serving others in the seemingly mundane moments—whether it’s through offering encouragement, being present with someone in need, or using our unique talents to help others grow. Discipleship is not reserved for a few “spiritual” moments or elite Christians, but it’s something that each person can engage in, no matter where they are or what they do.

Embracing Our Place in the Body

As we reflect on Epiphany’s call for us to enter deeper discipleship, we are reminded that the incarnation of Jesus is not just a historical event, but a present reality that calls us into action. Just as Jesus entered into the world to reveal God’s love to all people, we are called to embrace our role in the body of Christ, using our gifts and talents to serve others and build up God’s kingdom. Maybe our role is serving as a lector or worship leader. Perhaps it’s being a council member. Our role could be as simple as the voice in the room that names what they are grateful for.

Simple gifts does not mean insignificant gifts.