word4U2day

2026-07-01

Your own thing

Ephesians 4:16 NLT

Paul writes: 'As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body [church] is healthy and growing and full of love.' There are two kinds of growth - symbiotic growth and parasitic growth. Symbiotic growth is a give-and-take relationship where both sides benefit. Parasitic growth is when one side feeds off another but gives nothing back. So when we come out of church and say, 'I didn't get anything out of that service,' we're probably practising parasitic growth. Parasitic growth sounds like this: 'pray for me, preach to me, counsel me, help me, but expect nothing from me'. But symbiotic growth sounds like: 'yes, I have needs, but I'm willing to give, too, because everyone needs to benefit'.

Our bodies are made up of systems: the nervous system, circulatory system, muscular system, and so on. These systems rely on one another. They're interdependent. So when one of them goes down, the rest of the body takes the hit. Instead of saying, 'I'm going to church,' we need to remind ourselves that we are the church. 'The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ... and God has put each part just where he wants it' (1 Corinthians 12:12, 18 NLT).

God wants us to be a fully functioning part of His church. A part that doesn't just take, but gives too. And if we're not sure what our 'part' is, we can ask Him and He'll show us.

Links to Bible verses: Holy Bible

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