Today is the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities. We would like everyone who is involved in the ministry of Christian Horizons to take a moment today to focus on the truth that we live out everyday; that all humans, regardless of ability or need are made by God in His image and are indispensable in the body of Christ.
Though we are different we are all a part of His kingdom.
1 Corinthians 12:12-27 (NIV)
12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16 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 cease to be part of the body. 17 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? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
Today as we celebrate those who have different abilities, I would encourage everyone to think of something they have gained, whether it be knowledge, wisdom, help, kindness, hope or love through a person that was different than ourselves. We are richer for our differences. We all have gifts to use. I love that Paul says those that seem to be weaker are indispensable. Those of us who have responded to God’s call to serve know that the value of anyone does not depend on their abilities but on the fact that we are made by God. It doesn’t matter how we seem to the world or the value that society places on our lives. Our true value in God’s eyes is so much that He would send his son to die so that we could be in a relationship with Him.
• What is something that you have gained from someone who is different than yourself?
• What gifts do you have to contribute (what part are you in Christ’s body)?
• What is one way you can support someone to use their gifts in a new way?
Prayer:
Our Father,
As we join with the United Nations today to focus on persons who have different abilities we thank you that you value us for who you created us to be not because of the things we can or can’t do. Help us to all see each other with your eyes. Help us to focus on the gifts you have given each of us rather than on each of our deficits. Help us to use our gifts to love you and show your love to others. Help us to advocate for others and help them to bring their needed voice and gifts to communities that can never be whole without them. Help us all to live the values of Christian Horizons and honour you and value people in all we do and with all our resources. Thanks you that you see us all as indispensable in your body. Lord please use us for your glory.
Amen
Mark Wallace
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