Every Person Plays a Part

If you’ve ever been in a school play or seen one of the million Disney movies about musicals, you’ve surely heard the phrase, “There are no small parts, just small actors.” Cliché, and yet a glimmer of hope for anyone who hasn’t gotten the staring role.

I was writing Christmas Sunday School curriculum today, and one lesson focuses on Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father. Now, Joseph’s role might feel redundant considering Jesus already has God the Father. Mary is often the one who gets the spotlight in this story, and for good reason, considering the sacrifice, courage, and humility she displayed. Yet there’s something rather comforting about Joseph’s involvement in this pivotal moment in history.

God didn’t have to include Joseph in Jesus’ arrival, yet God chose to include Joseph for many reasons, one of them being that Joseph provides an example for us as to how to be purposeful outside the spotlight.

Joseph took care of Jesus’ earthly needs. He remained loyal to Mary when others likely turned against their family. He listened when God spoke to him and protected his family from danger. He never slay dragons or laid down his life in a dramatic way, yet God’s story wouldn’t be complete without him.

It’s easy to feel like our roles are minimal, especially if we spend most of our time encouraging others with more “exciting” purposes. Yet God has created each one of us uniquely in order to fulfill equally important roles intended for us.

You have an important part to play in the continuation of God’s great story for the world. No matter how others have made you feel, you are valuable, vital, and valiant as you continue to pursue God.

But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 

1 Corinthians 12:24-25