A Willing Unknown
The Pillars of the Church: A Willing Unknown
Have you ever felt unnoticed, underqualified, or viewed simply as a replacement for someone else? I wonder if Matthias felt any of these things when he was chosen by the disciples in Acts 1:15-26 to replace Judas Iscariot as the twelfth Apostle? Who was Matthias? His name was not prominent, but his impact is lasting.
Matthias was with Jesus and the rest of the Apostles from the baptism of John to the ascension of Jesus. That means he saw the dead raised, the sick and crippled healed; he smelled and tasted the food when the 5,000 were fed; he heard the Sermon on the Mount. He saw the resurrected Jesus and His ascension into heaven. Matthias witnessed it all in absolute obscurity. The gospels never mention his name; yet he was there on every page. He’s never mentioned again in the Book of Acts or anywhere else in Scripture. He emerges for a while and then vanishes again in obscurity. Matthias was a willing unknown who followed Jesus with no other motive but faithfulness. And God surprised him with greater influence; he became one of the twelve Apostles and a pillar in the Early Church before being martyred for his faith in Christ.
Beloved, Matthias never sought a position but was chosen in due time because faithfulness in obscurity is genuine faithfulness. God saw it and rewarded it! Even when unnoticed, he was committed to daily living a life of worshiping God, working for God, and walking with God with no other motive but faithfulness. If you are a Matthias, a willing unknown, God sees your faithfulness, and he will reward you in due time; just ask Matthias! “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
This is Laine Wilder for Carry the Light Ministries, bringing you Insights From an Elder.
by Laine Wilder
Author of “Insights From an Elder” for
Carry the Light Ministries
