There are a lot of different body parts. There are 43 muscles just in your face alone! And if each one did the exact same job, you would have a pretty messed up smile. Each one does a different thing, but each one also has a different range of movement, a different shape and position, and a different set of needs.
As the body of Christ, it’s our responsibility to make sure that the other believers around us can be a different shape. That they can have a different set of needs, and a different range of movement, and they are still part of the body.
And tolerance is not enough! We can’t simply ‘allow’ different shapes to be around us. We can’t simply tolerate their presence. They need to belong, they need to be a part, and they need to be able to function the way that God made them so that they can get done the plan that God gave them.
So as you go about you week, try and connect with a believer that does things differently than you. Maybe they prefer different music, or they have a different lifestyle than you. Seek to understand and embrace their differences. Listen to what they like. Get to know their kids, or their grandkids. Learn about their hobbies, their likes and dislikes. But do whatever you can to build one more connection of support, love, and belonging. Because the more we love each other, the more we honor Jesus and the more we look like the church He sought to build. Because “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35).
