--The Creator of the Universe Can and Does Use His People. ~~

"The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" --[1 Corinthians 22:21] -

---Jia Haixia lost his sight in the year 2000. His friend Jia Wenqui lost his arms as a child. But they've found a way around their disabilities. "I am his hands and he is my eyes," Haixia says. Together, they're transforming their village in China.

Since 2002 the friends have been on a mission to regenerate a wasteland near their home. Each day Haixia climbs on Wenqui's back to cross a river to the site. Wenqui then "hands' Haixia a shovel with his foot, before Haixia places a pail on a pole between Wenqui's cheek and shoulder. And as one digs and the other waters, the two plant trees--more than 10,000 so far. "Working together, we don't feel disabled at all, Haixia says. "We're a team."

The apostle Paul likens the church to a body, each part needing the other to function. If the church were all eyes, they'd be no hearing; if all ears, there'd be no sense of smell (1 Corinthians 12:14-17). "The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I don't need you! " Paul says (v.21). Each of us plays a role in the church based on our spiritual gifts (vv. 7-11, 18). Like Jia Haixia and Jia Wenqi, when we combine our strengths, we can bring change to the world.

Two men combining their abilities to regenerate a wasteland. What a picture of the church in action!

--"Holy Spirit, thank You for giving me spiritual gifts and arranging me in a body where I'm needed. Use me, Lord for Your glory, in Jesus Name."

--ODB/SV~