Designed For MoreSample

Murmuration Signpost #1: We Need Each Other

There is no misinterpreting Paul’s message in 1 Corinthians 12 when he famously says, “The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I don’t need you!' And the head cannot say to the feet, 'I don’t need you!'”

As believers, we need each another. Not only does Scripture call us to this interdependence, so do the laws of nature.

In the Murmuration phenomena of flocking starlings, research shows that the birds have a deep understanding of their mutual need. And the results are nearly mystical. 

The birds realize how much they need each another to accomplish their greater strategy of escaping their predator. In fact, their chances of survival are exponential when they rely on their neighbor and combine their strengths. 

When a bird on the outer part of the flock banks inward toward the formation, research shows that the entire flock responds. This is because within the phenomena, the starlings truly operate as one interdependent body. 

Let your imagination run wild for a minute—what if God designed the Church for this same sort of unity? What if the same power that God placed in nature is the same design for His follower to operate as one body? He knew how large, diverse, and geographically scattered his people would be one day, and yet, empowered and united by the Holy Spirit we have the potential for a Murmuration of our own. 

Before we can move toward God’s 1 Corinthians 12 design for the Church, we must first realize deep in our gut just how much we need one another. It is time to lay aside our individualism and pride because we will never accomplish alone the things we were designed to do together. 

You will miss out on so many blessings from God if you stay in an isolated silo. You are a part of Christ’s body—that’s who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your “part” mean anything.

Take a moment and give God thanks for the gifts He has given you and for the gifts He’s given to others you know and serve with. How are you each dependent on one another? How can you bless others by asking for their support or bless others by giving your support?

Prayer:

Lord, help me give unique dignity and honor to each part of the Church body, just as it is, without comparisons. Give me a one-body mindset for Your larger, more comprehensive identity of the Church. Help me celebrate when others win and remember that I need others and they need me.