Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? (NIV)

Has there ever been a time when you wanted to emulate someone you admired? A famous athlete, a celebrity, maybe an actor or actress? I think it’s so common for us to compare ourselves to others with social media. We don’t want to live on the margins, feeling alone or shamed, not fitting in and comfortable with the “in-crowd.” Sometimes, we can lose our authenticity and forget to honor that we were all designed uniquely. When this happens, we can find ourselves hiding who we really are without nurturing the beautiful creation God has made us to be.  

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In this verse, Paul creates a metaphor to express that one part of the body is not more important than another and speaks to the person who feels excluded from the body. The eyes and hands seem to be thought of as more “glamorous” than the feet and ears. But the message is clear: even the parts of ourselves or others that feel “less” have a vital, beautiful, and dignified purpose from God.  

Paul reminds us that each person is designed intentionally by God. Often, we seek validation through others by what we do, the things we can accomplish, and the labels we can attach to ourselves. As we do this, hunger and thirst remain for more as we chase to feel seen and loved. But the truth is, we are so much more than the things we do, our job position, our sexuality, our achievements, and our family titles. When we seek truth, we can find rest in living in an authentic design that stands the test against cultural opinions.

As God calls us to love others, we love others well by appreciating their place in the body of Christ. Not only is diversity in the body of Jesus acceptable, but it is also essential. Paul says the “hand cannot say the foot is not of the body because it is not a hand.” Just like the body cannot work correctly if all hands or eyes, we cannot see the extraordinary way God has designed all of us and the gifts he has given us if we are all the same. Honoring diversity and uniqueness can allow us to find unity within ourselves and with God. He made us wholly in his image, so the hand can take no pride in being a hand, and the foot can take no shame in being a foot.  

The good news is we do not live by the expectations of others, but in the reality of God. We are not defined by the labels of this world but by whom HE calls us to be. Our Father tells us in this passage that pride and shame will not take up space in eternity with him. Through him, our stories of loss and destruction can turn into stories of hope and redemption. When we’re living confident in our place in the Kingdom, we can embrace who we are through our loving Father. And when we are rooted in that, our identity becomes unshakable.  

Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us that God has made everything beautiful in its time. Today, what are some ways that God has made you unique? What does it look like for you to take the next step in living authentically, just as God has designed you?

Father, thank you for creating every son and daughter uniquely and extraordinarily. Let us celebrate the way others show their uniqueness and encourage them. Please continuously remind us of the great honor we have to speak love and light into others! I pray that each person who reads this remembers the value and worth they bring to the world. Amen.