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)
One of the great challenges we face today is mistaking anonymous for unnecessary. We live in a popularity-crazed culture, measuring our level of status by the number of “likes” on our social media account. But if we in the body of Christ think this way, everyone is diminished. Every person who makes up the body of Christ is both valuable and needed. Popularity is not a qualifier for necessity. I have said here on more than one occasion that God did not make any “extra” Christians. And if there are no extra Christians, then each one is absolutely needed, regardless of their anonymity.
When you think of some of the great saints in the history of the church, you might wonder . . . Who were those people behind the scenes who made the greatest difference in their lives? Who were those unnamed saints who supported the ministry of our Lord Jesus when He walked this earth, perhaps providing a cool cup of water to our Lord and His weary disciples on a hot day? Who visited young Dwight L. Moody in a shoe store and shared the Good News of Jesus Christ with him, thus effectively launching the career of one of history’s most influential evangelists? Who sat backstage and prayed faithfully for Billy Graham during his crusades, where millions came to faith over the decades? The list of the anonymous who were (and are) absolutely necessary could fill several volumes.
We must remember that when it comes to the body of Christ, it is the head of the body, Jesus Christ, who determines who gets noticed and who stays behind the scenes. But regardless of the position, both are necessary . . . and our Lord takes note of them all.
I think about our Cross Community Church plant and just how many of our members are working behind the scenes, praying alone at home; without those people we simply would not be able to function. To be sure, the growth of any church is all of God’s grace, but God uses means, and most of those means are largely anonymous, unseen by the watching world.
Funny thing about the word “anonymous” . . . For the most part, that is exactly the way these saints of God like it. They never want their names to be mentioned in a meeting or to be celebrated for their service to God. Their reward is their service, and they serve faithfully, fearlessly, and without fanfare.
Remember, if it weren’t for the unknown “nobodies” there would be no known “somebodies,” and nothing would get done. We each need all of us. It takes all of us together, working with one heartbeat, to do all that God has called us to do to expand the cause of His Kingdom. And if the truth be known, we are all “nobodies” working together to point the world to the only One who really is Somebody: Jesus Christ, who offers us the “happily ever after” we all long for.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 