Being Nobody is Actually a Good Thing
The song “Nobody” by Casting Crowns featuring Matthew West is not necessarily new but the first time I heard it; it spoke to me. The video is below or listen on your favorite streaming service.
The first part of the song to catch my notice was the chorus. It is the truest thing I have heard. I am a nobody. Perfectly content to live my life in the background and keep my big dreams in my head. I’ve spent so much time being invisible that I’ve found it hard to step into the spotlight and open myself to the world. But the day has come for me to do just that. If you feel the same way, then let’s dive deeper into the lyrics of the song and the scriptural foundations for many of them.
Those who belong at the end of the line
The first verse is quite enlightening. Look through the Bible and look closely at who God called and helped to do great things. Noah-a nobody, chosen as the only faithful one and with his family was the only one to survive the flood. Moses-raised as a prince, forsook that life after he killed a man and was called to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Joshua-became a leader of the people, was the only one who believed God when he said he would give them the land and was chosen to lead them into the land when the time came. David-a shepherd was chosen to become king and despite his many failures was considered a man after God’s own heart. The twelve disciples were all outsiders and nobodies and yet they learned at the feet of the master and went into the world to share that knowledge (more on them later). So, if you find yourself like I do identifying as a nobody you’re in good company.
Biblical Nobodies
In the second verse specific Bible characters are mentioned who had humble beginnings and went on to do great things.
Moses
In Exodus Moses is tending his father-in-laws flock when he sees a burning bush that was not being consumed by the fire. When he approached the bush the voice of the Lord spoke to him. The Lord wanted Moses to be the one to lead the Israelites out of Egypt but Moses had objection after objection and the Lord answered each objection until finally Moses said “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” 11 Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” 13 But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” (Exodus 4:10-13, ESV). This angered the Lord though he agreed that Moses’ brother Aaron should accompany him to save the Israelites.
David
David was a shepherd boy who was sent by his father to bring food to his older brothers on the front lines. While he was there the troops were being taunted by Goliath a Philistine and they were terrified. David however was not afraid because he knew that the Lord would deliver them. Saul outfitted him in his own armor but David wasn’t comfortable with the armor so decided to take it off. On his way he chose five stones from the river. “The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.” 45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand” (1 Samuel 17:44-47, ESV). He took a stone from his pouch and using his sling he threw it at the Philistine the stone hit him in the forehead and sunk in. Upon seeing that their champion was dead the Philistines ran and the Israelite army pursued them.
The Twelve Disciples
The twelve were no exception. Peter, Andrew, James & John were all fisherman before Jesus called them to follow him. Phillip when he found out about Jesus went and found Nathanael (Bartholomew) and they both followed Jesus (John 1:35). Thomas doubted the reports that Jesus had risen until he saw the nail scarred hands. Matthew was a tax collector, in society of the time tax collectors were considered the worst of the worst. James, Thaddeus (Judas son of James), Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot are only mentioned in the lists of disciples so not much is known about who they are.
In Great Company
Philippians 2:9-11 tells us that “so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (ESV).” It would be a high honor to be in the company of these greats at the end knowing I answered the call inspite of myself, my fears, my weaknesses, and my doubt. My only goal is to introduce people to Jesus Christ and to “make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19, ESV). I’m not talking about religion, I’m talking about the freeing grace that only a relationship with Christ can bring.
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