In his book Encourage Me, Charles Swindoll asks the following questions: 'Who taught Martin Luther his theology and inspired his translation of the New Testament? Who visited Dwight L. Moody at a shoe store and spoke to him about Christ?... Who financed William Carey's ministry in India? Who refreshed the Apostle Paul in that Roman dungeon as he wrote his last letter to Timothy?... Who followed Hudson Taylor and gave the China Inland Mission its remarkable vision and direction?... What was it Jim Elliot, the martyred messenger of the Gospel to the Aucas in Ecuador, once called the missionaries? Something like "a bunch of nobodies trying to exalt Somebody". But don't mistake anonymous for unnecessary. Otherwise, the whole body gets crippled... even paralyzed... or, at best, terribly dizzy as the majority of the members... become diseased with self-pity and discouragement. Face it, friend, the head of the body calls the shots. It is His prerogative to publicize some and hide others. Don't ask me why He chooses whom He uses. If it's His desire to use you as a Melanchthon rather than a Luther... or a Kimball rather than a Moody... or an Onesiphorus rather than a Paul... or a Hoste rather than a Taylor, relax! Better than that, give God praise! You're among that elite group mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12. '"God has put the body together in such a way that extra honor and care are given to those parts that might otherwise seem less important"' (vv. 22-24 TLB). So be encouraged: you may be anonymous, but you're indispensable!
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