We went to Handel’s Messiah in Perth.  For the first half, the drums sat alone and untouched.

In the second half, the percussionist appeared, but mostly sat in his chair and followed while others sang and played.  Unless we missed something (possible, since he wasn’t the main focus), he only took part in three pieces:  Hallelujah, Worthy is the Lamb, and Amen — but those pieces simply would not have been the same without him.

Sometimes the master musician (Handel, in this case) only gives out small parts that might seem insignificant, even boring most of the time — but then, his goal is not to stroke the egos of the musicians, but to create a masterpiece.

In God’s great masterpiece, as He has worked throughout the world and through the centuries, our entire church is just a bit part, one tiny note from one instrument in the orchestra, or one word from one person in the choir.  If our church is that insignificant, any one person’s part in our church is surely even smaller, right?

Small, yes, but not unimportant.  God is creating a masterpiece “as it pleases Him”, and for that to happen, everyone needs to be there for the Hallelujah Chorus, to join in proclaiming, “Worthy is the Lamb,” and to add our Amen in the great final anthem.  Where is the percussionist when he is needed?  May we all be faithful!

14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.