The Value of the Lesser Parts

“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ… Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. 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… But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.”

— 1 Corinthians 12:12, 14–15, 18 (NIV)

I’ve never put much thought into my second toe or its importance. "Lesser part" feels like an accurate description. But over the past six months, as I’ve returned to running after a plantar plate tear, this little part of my body has proven its value.

The same is true in the Church.

Church is often thought of as the building we go to on Sundays, but church is really the people—the body of Christ, made up of all believers. It's not about walls or stages, but about faith of the people, each playing a unique and important role in God’s kingdom. “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” — 1 Corinthians 12:27

All eyes are often on the pastor or the worship team, but there are lesser-seen parts—essential roles—that only show their importance when they’re not functioning well. One of those parts is prayer.

Just like my second toe, the quiet work of prayer sustains the whole body. We may not see it, but when it's absent, we feel it.

Application: Maybe you’ve felt like your role in the Church is small or unseen. Don’t underestimate the power of what you do in private—especially your prayers. The body of Christ depends on every part functioning well, and sometimes the hidden parts carry the heaviest weight. If you’re in a quiet season, use it to quietly lift others up. Your faithfulness is seen by God, and it matters more than you know.