In football, there are a limited number of people that a team can have on the field. Winning coaches have discovered that it is those teams who can utilize every member to its fullest that wins games. Though a team may have a backup quarterback, that backup is more than just a backup. He is not just sitting on the bench somewhere waiting for his turn to play. No, if you will watch, he usually has a set of earphones and a notepad giving signals, collecting stats, and playing a huge part that many in the stands don’t even recognize.

1 Corinthians 12:27 states, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it.”

When you think of the Kingdom of God as a body, it brings the reality of no spare parts into perspective. Think about it, which one of your ten figures or ten toes would you volunteer to give up today? Not one of them. Because each of them enables us to do things we could otherwise not do. As a matter of fact, in the Old Testament days, if an opposing king happened to be captured, they would cut off his fingers or thumbs and make him live as a beggar. Here is what they understood: You could turn a warrior into a wimp if you just cut off a finger or a thumb.

The corporate body of Christ cannot accomplish what we are called to accomplish as long as you live deceived in thinking that you are just a spare part. Your part is important. There is no substitute for you.

Today’s Challenge: Realize that you have a vital role to play in the Kingdom of God. God’s plan for redeeming humanity involves you. The strategy He has given your pastor regarding the local church includes you. Pray today that God will reveal His placement for your life, then submit yourself to His leadership and the placement He has for your life.