You.

From him. The whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love as each part does its work. Ephesians four, verse 17 I got to my study one Sunday morning and spotted a penny on the sidewalk near the parking lot. I usually pick up coins that I find and put them in the offering plate. But I didn't pick up that penny after all. I thought, it's just a penny, and pennies don't really count. I'm not the only one who thinks so. The penny lay there all week in plain sight, yet no one gave it a second look or made any effort to scoop it up. Some simply ignored it. Some stepped right over it. Others passed by on the other side of the road. I admit that they may have been distracted by the blob unceremoniously dropped nearby by a passing bird. But I'm trying to make a point here, so stay with me, okay? That little penny was still there after Sunday school and worship the next week. It looked lonely, abandoned and unwanted. It seemed that nobody thought the penny was important. But that penny is important. That penny does count. True, by itself, it can't do much. That's the nature of pennies. But when put together with others, the total adds up. After all, when you put one penny with a couple of other pennies, it makes sense, right? That's how it is in Christ's church, too. One person alone can accomplish only a little. But when everyone works together, each doing the little bit that he or she can, the church grows and prospers. By the way, I picked up the penny and put it in the offering plate the following Sunday. I'll never know for sure, but that one penny may have been the difference between paying the light bill or not that week.

This has been your thought for the day with Steve Burkham, pastor of community Christian Church in Stockton, California. If you have questions or comments for Pastor Steve, please send them to [email protected] have a great day, and we hope you'll join us tomorrow as Pastor Steve opens God's word to bring us another thought for the day.