I am definitely not the expert on biology or anything related to that, but I can envision what Paul is speaking to in these verses. One thing that stands out to me about human development is the way that cells specialize based on what their role and function will be in our bodies. Just as God has created, formed, and developed every cell as they work together for the good of the whole body, God has created, formed, and is developing and activating every believer to work for the good of His body, the Church. Both of these processes being only something God could come up with and sustain. Just as the different parts of our physical bodies depend on each other, feel the impact of each other’s health (or unhealth), and aren’t able to survive on their own, so it is with the church as the body of Christ.
In the same way that our cells develop and specialize into a specific function or role, we can grow and develop in Christ into the gifts and work that He has designed and prepared us for. Have you taken time to look at the way God has wired you? If so, have you stepped into those God-given gifts? For me, it’s not enough to do that once, but it requires me to often pause and look at how I’m stepping into those things and what is distracting or holding me back. Whether it’s fear, insecurity, comparison, or busyness, the enemy uses a variety of weapons in order to distract and try to make us ineffective in the Kingdom work God has given us. But with Christ as the head, we can continue to learn and grow in Him, remembering that God is the one that created and wired us to have certain gifts that would serve Him and make Him known in our world. As we live that out, we encourage the same from the other “members” of Christ’s body that serve different functions than we ever could. All for God’s glory!