The Unknown's - Friday August 15, 2025.loop
“The Unknowns”
Have you ever felt or know someone feeling as though life has no meaning or at the least, very little significance? Some individuals may sense limitations because their personality or physical appearance doesn’t measure up to others. At least in their own eyes. Some people are identified by what they’ve done, how they speak, or afflictions they may have. If I were to invite each of you to send me five of your favorite Bible characters in the Old and New Testaments, my inbox would be loaded with many of the same people. I think it safe to say, some would not be mentioned at all.
The Bible is filled with stories of amazing men and women, nonperfect, many damaged, lots unidentified, but used by God to fulfill His purpose. You know many main characters, but what about the “unknown’s” Jesus found offering them salvation or using them to carry out a specific purpose. Let’s take a moment and consider a few of these “who were they” people.
How about the boy who gave his lunch of 2 fish and five loaves of bread that Jesus multiplied to feed 20,000 or more people? Who was the invalid that laid by the pool for 38 years before Jesus walked by and healed him? The man blind from birth surely had a name and family, but neither he nor they are mentioned by name. The Samaritan woman was popular among her peers, but other than her bad reputation, we don’t know who she was. How about the woman caught in adultery and the men desiring to stone her but couldn’t because of their own sins. We read about a widow woman making bread for herself and son then expecting to die of starvation but gave the meal to Elijah instead. Who was she? Who was the woman of faith that believed if she could only touch the hem of Jesus’ garment, she’d be healed of a blood issue after battling for twelve years?
These are just a few of the “unknowns” God healed or used in miraculous ways. Unknown to us, but mighty in the eyes of God. Someone reading these lines may feel insignificant. You may not have been the top student, star athlete or most popular in the eyes of other people, but here’s how God sees you. You’re the apple of his eye. You are more than a number. You may not be in the limelight, but you are in the sight of your Heavenly Father. You are so significant to him that there is absolutely not one other person just like you.
Others may identify you by various means, but if you are a believer in Christ, your name is written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life. You are worthy. You are a person of purpose and through your faithfulness being used of God in ways you may not even know or imagine. Don’t ever forget, if someone walks out of your life, God walks in. When others say you can’t, the Lord says you can because “All things are possible for those who believe.” Whatever our true or conceived status is in this world, as followers of Christ we are called to be a blessing to others. Every person has value with God and because of that, they have value to us. Let’s treat them as such.
Pastor Carnes
