A Beautiful Picture

I recently visited my older brother who lives far from me. He and his family welcomed me with food and fun. While sitting at his dining room table, I noticed a very large jigsaw puzzle that my brother had glued together, framed, and hung on the wall. When I looked closely, each piece was unique, yet each piece was needed to complete the picture.

I think my church congregation is a lot like that jigsaw puzzle. I look around my church and see people of all different sizes, shapes, and colors. They each have various gifts and skills, and when we come together to worship, it is beautiful. No one is more important than someone else. It is the uniqueness of the people in the congregation that makes the complete picture pleasing to God.

In John 13:34, Jesus says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Just as my brother needed glue to hold the puzzle pieces together, it is God’s love for us, our love for God, and our love for each other that holds us together.