Tag: purpose

Nobody

The next entry for my Blog is Nobody, which was written by Bernhard Herms, Douglas Williams, John Mark Hall, Leonard Williams, Matthew West, and Melvin Williams.  It was first released August 13, 2019.  A link to Casting Crowns singing the song is at the bottom of the Blog.


Why You ever chose me
Has always been a mystery
All my life, I’ve been told I belong
At the end of a line
With all the other Not-Quites
With all the Never-Get-It-Rights
But it turns out they are the ones You were looking for
All this time

‘Cause I’m just a nobody trying to tell everybody
All about Somebody who saved my soul
Ever since You rescued me, You gave my heart a song to sing
I’m living for the world to see nobody but Jesus
I’m living for the world to see nobody but Jesus

Moses had stage fright
And David brought a rock to a sword fight
You picked twelve outsiders nobody would’ve chosen
And You changed the world
Well, the moral of the story is
Everybody’s got a purpose
So when I hear that devil start talking to me, saying
“Who do you think you are?” I say

I’m just a nobody trying to tell everybody
All about Somebody who saved my soul
Ever since You rescued me, You gave my heart a song to sing
I’m living for the world to see nobody but Jesus
I’m living for the world to see nobody but Jesus

So let me go down, down, down in history
As another blood-bought faithful member of the family
And if they all forget my name, well, that’s fine with me
I’m living for the world to see nobody but Jesus
So let me go down, down, down in history (go down in history)
As another blood-bought faithful member of the family
(It’s all I ever wanna be) And if they all forget my name, well, that’s fine with me
I’m living for the world to see nobody but Jesus, yeah

I’m just a nobody (nobody)
Trying to tell everybody
All about Somebody
Who saved my soul (oh, saved my, saved my soul)
Ever since You rescued me
You gave my heart a song to sing (you gave me a song to sing)
I’m living for the world to see
Nobody but Jesus (nobody but You, Lord)
I’m living for the world to see nobody but Jesus

I’m living for the world to see nobody but Jesus

I believe perhaps that the majority of us are described in the first verse of this song.  How many times have you just felt completely invisible when you were trying so hard to be seen?  We dreaded the times when it was time to choose teams.  The biggest, strongest, and most handsome guys were always chosen first, unfortunately I did not meet the criteria I mentioned for guys.  It seemed as if the most beautiful and popular girls were always selected first.  Once the cream of the crop was selected, then people like me were finally picked.  Sometimes I may have been picked in the middle of the group and sometimes I was last.  Of course there were other times when maybe I didn’t get selected at all.  The above could apply to sports, plays, choirs, other group activities such as groups getting together just to socialize, or to life in general.  Every year in the Christmas holiday season, the animated movie Rudolph comes on TV, and of course there is the song about Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.  One verse in the song states,

All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games.

I realize it may be somewhat juvenile to use this song in my example, but doesn’t it seem to fit the scenarios I described above?  Probably all of us end up in this situation at sometime in our lives, we become a member of the Not Quites and Never Get it Right Club.  As I shared the above, I hope I didn’t cause you to recall any painful memories.

The heart of this song is the fact that we are the ones that Jesus was looking for when he came to be with us so long ago.  We are the reasons God sent his only son to die for us.  Maybe most of us have been lifetime members of this “nobody” class and Jesus came to offer us one gift, the gift of eternal life and his acceptance forever.  He wanted to bring this eternal joy to all who were willing to accept him.  The song asked the question, why did Jesus ever choose us and be willing to die for us; after all; we are the ones who were never first.  Think about where Jesus taught, he taught in the fields and along the coasts more than he taught in the towns and cities.  He wanted people from all walks of life to hear of his promise and let them know that his arms reached out to everyone, not just the select few who didn’t feel as if they needed him.  He really asks us to do two things.  First, the absolute was to accept him as our personal Lord and savior, the second was to spread his word throughout the world.  He wants everyone to feel loved and wants each of us to feel as if we are at the front of the line; we are no longer the ones at the end of the line.  Jesus sees us as a circle where everyone is equal, no one is above another.

Jesus wants to let everyone know there is no such person as a “nobody” in his eyes.  His love goes to everyone all the time, the lines with beginning and end are gone, we are part of the circle that has no beginning and no end and can expand every minute of every day.  Jesus is always in the middle within reach of every single soul.  As we learn what life should be all about, we no longer care who is physically first or last, we are just glad they are here and listening to the teaching of God’s word. As we step into the ever growing circle of the followers of Jesus, our burdens become lighter.  We find this in the book of Matthew 11:28-30. “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Some of the greatest heroes in the bible were just normal people like you and I.  Moses, the shepherd, was scared to speak in front of the Egyptian Pharoah, so God sent Aaron to go with him and speak for him when he was trying to lead the Israelites out of bondage.  David was just a very young shepherd and God chose him to battle the giant and guided him to only take his sling, while the giant carried a spear that was probably bigger than David. God chose Noah to build an ark and save his family.  Although others were invited to join, they just laughed at Noah and his family.  Their laughter stopped once the floods came and Noah was setting sail.  God chose the lowly shepherds to be some of the first to see the baby Jesus lying in a manger.  Jesus chose twelve disciples from all walks of life, none were famous and most were fishermen just living from day to day.  Some were unliked, some were hot headed, but Jesus took them regardless of their background.  Take a second to think about how these disciples carried forward his message and helped change the world.  All of these people were people like you and I, all nobodies, it is just that they dedicated their lives to Jesus and spreading his love to everyone they came in contact with. 

It is also important to note that God used many people who were people we may have never chosen based on their background.  God knew their strengths and did not hold their weaknesses against them when he accepted them as one of his own.

  • David had an affair
  • Peter, a disciple, had a temper
  • Noah got drunk
  • The apostle Paul was a murderer
  • Sara was impatient and had Abraham father a child with another woman
  • Jonah ran from God and was swallowed by a whale
  • Thomas was a doubter.

In the book of Romans 5:8, we are told that God loves us even though we continue to do the wrong things.  “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  He does not judge us on our past, he accepts us for our future.  All we have to do is accept him and the sacrifice of his son.

As you take time to digest the words to this song, you should begin to realize that there is no one more important than you in the eyes of God.  We are all equal and what we physically own or what we have accomplished in our lives doesn’t really mean a lot to him.  What is important to him is that we start reaching out to everyone around us to make sure they do not feel like a nobody with no hope.  Our mission is to make sure everyone understands there is no such person as a nobody, that Jesus loves us all and we are all equal.  For those of you who are used to being the best, the brightest, the most talented, and the most beautiful; realize that God gave you these qualities.  Many people with these qualities have already accepted Christ, but I surmise there are a lot who still have more faith in themselves than they have in God.  If you have not accepted Jesus as your personal savior, then the time for that is now, tomorrow could be too late since tomorrow is never promised to any of us. 

Doesn’t it feel great to be a nobody?

Click to Hear Casting Crowns Sing Nobody

The Commission

The next entry for my Blog is The Commission, which was written by David Neesmith, Carter Frodge, Madison Cain, Taylor Cain, and Logan Cain.  The song was initially released December 11, 2021.  A link to Cain performing the song is at the bottom of the Blog.

The Commission

See my hands and look at my feet
It’s okay if it’s hard to believe
I have faith you will do greater things
It’s my time to go but before I leave

Go tell the world about me
I was dead but now I live
I’ve gotta go now for a little while
But goodbye is not the end

Don’t forget the things that I taught you
I’ve conquered death and I hold the keys
Where I go you will go too, someday
But there’s much to do here before you leave

Go tell the world about me
I was dead but now I live
I’ve gotta go now for a little while
But goodbye is not the

End of the journey, the end of the road
My spirit is with you wherever you go
You have a purpose and I have a plan
I’ll make you this promise
I’ll come back again but until then

Go tell the world about me
I was dead but now I live
I’ve gotta go now for a little while
But goodbye is not the end

go tell them about me
(Go tell the world) I’ve gotta go
(Go tell the world) for a little while
But goodbye is not the end

I write a lot of Blog entries focused on becoming a Christian and what Christ can do in our lives, but have never really written much about what Christ expects of each of us who have accepted him as our personal savior.  I believe this song provides definition around Christ’s expectations of us. 

The very first line has us drawing our attention to the sacrifice Christ made for us, he was nailed to the cross and died for our sins.  He knows that it is perfectly normal, as human beings, to doubt that it would be Christ standing in front of any of us.  He then makes an amazing statement, he who has conquered death says, “I know you will do even greater things.”  Wow, stop and give that some thought!   My first thought is, you have to be kidding, how can any of us possibly accomplish more than Christ?

The simple statement that follows, in the first line of the chorus, is to basically tell the world about him.   He is asking us to essentially tell his story since he will be leaving them, but he did promise to return again one day, so it was more of “I will see you later” as opposed to “this is good bye.”  This is the same commission Christ gives all of us in Matthew 28:16-20.   16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”.

He doesn’t just ask us to go out into the world without preparation.  To be successful in our task, we are firstly told to focus on the things Christ has taught us.  Each of us needs to take a quiet time and reflect upon everything we have been taught via his teachings.  How we should love everyone, how we should pray for everyone, that we should never be ashamed of his teachings, and that we proclaim his word wherever we go.  Many of these things he has commanded us to do will take us outside of our comfort zone.  Take a minute or two and reflect on these things we are told to do and assess your willingness to follow through on his commands for us. 

A strong encouragement he gives us is that he conquered death and he now holds the keys to the kingdom of heaven.  Those that accept him as their Lord and Savior will join him one day.  Jesus knows there is a lot for each of us to do as we try to reach the world around us, but he died for our eternal life, so I don’t think it is an unfair request. 

Jesus tells them his time on earth is done, but he leaves us with the Holy Spirit, which dwells in every believer, to guide and comfort us.  In John 14:26, we find this promise, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” 

Another point of note is that we are all given a purpose, but only he knows the plan.  For these who believe they know all of God’s plans for them are terribly mistaken, we all want to operate within God’s plan since that is the only valid and successful plan.  Jeremiah 26:4 tells us, For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”     

Jesus promised eternal life to all of those who accept him as their personal Savior, and he also promised that he would return to the earth one day.  We do not know the day of his return, but we all need to work on the commission he has laid out before us.  We want to work on The Commission until he takes us home.  When we are finally called to our eternal home, wouldn’t it be great to hear our Savior say, “well done my good and faithful servant?”

Click to Hear Cain Sing Great Commission