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This is a two-fold lesson for us: Our vocations in the church matter. The role you play is of significance and worth. Let us cheerfully fulfill our churchly vocations, knowing they have been given to us by God for the benefit of the Body. We each play a different vocation. Play yours and honor others. The whole body is not an eye, just as the whole church is not a single church worker. Honor and respect the vocations of others rather than dismissing or envying them. Lutheran Life 9 What do you most struggle with: feeling insignificant at church or looking down on others? Who at church has a different vocational responsibility than yours? How could you encourage those people in their vocation this week? What would it look like to invest your time and energy to build up the Body at church? w What's your role? Take a moment to consider what role(s) you have at church. Vocation even goes beyond the work you do. It includes your very presence in relation to others. Your presence at church is part of fulfilling your vocation as a member of the Body of Christ. Even through the simple act of coming to church and sitting in your pew (perhaps, the exact same pew every week!), you are an encouragement and example to those around you. Similarly, your absence at church is an absence to the body; it makes it incomplete. Feeling like your role isn't as important as that of your pastor or church worker? Or, conversely, that your vocation is more important than the elderly widow or wiggly baby? Paul has something to say about both thoughts. Did you catch that? Those we consider weaker or of less honor are actually indispensable and held with greater honor! How can that be? Because "God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another" (vv. 24–25). God ascribes equal honor and importance to all members of the Body. Each person is carrying out his or her vocation; each is walking in the good works God has prepared for him or her to do. THAT is worthy of our honor. " " The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor. (vv. 21–23) Heart Check 1 2 Scripture: ESV®

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