Does anyone know you exist? Perhaps you ask: “Does God even know I exist?” Does it lift your heavy heart just a little bit knowing the Lord couldn’t be more aware of you and your circumstances than He is right now – even if you feel all alone in your solitude and insignificance?
Some characters in the Bible are more prominent than others. For some, their names are found multiple times in both the Old and New Testaments, but for others, their names appear only once or twice. David’s name is mentioned roughly 968 times. Another high hitter was Moses coming in at 784. Abraham (Abram) stands at around 280, with Solomon trailing slightly behind at 274. Is it worth mentioning those who were left behind in a cloud of numerical dust?
Numbers often count in politics, and getting your name ‘out there’ is a big part of the game. The more mentions and shout-outs one gets – the more likely they are to go down in history as someone of significance. Sometimes quantity gets favoured over quality.
Spiritually, the Lord looks at more than just numbers. It is an understatement to say He is quite interested in quality. Would you think your life amounted to anything if no one else seemed to notice your meagre efforts, but the Lord above was well-pleased with your life below?
Amasiah probably does not jump to the forefront of your mind when it comes to outstanding Bible characters, and that’s not surprising. After all, he is only mentioned once. Once – you say? What a loser! Should we feel sorry for Amasiah over his abysmal ranking – at the bottom of the heap?
…Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to the LORD..” or, volunteered himself for the service of the Lord. 2 Chronicles 17:16
The one and only reference to Amasiah is in 2 Chronicles 17:16. He was one of Jehoshaphat’s five military generals. According to 1 Chronicles 26:26, 27 great soldiers often offered to the Lord the things they recovered in battles – the spoils of battle. Amasiah probably did that too – but he did much more!
The other generals may have accomplished great feats out of duty for Jehoshaphat. But what is eternally significant is what we do for the Lord’s eyes alone – not so much driven by the expectations of others or mere duty but rather devotion to the Lord. Amasiah was singled out because he willingly offered himself to the Lord.
We don’t have to know the details or the circumstances in Amasiah’s life that caused such a statement to be recorded. God knows the details, and He valued them enough to have Amasiah’s sacrifice recorded in His Word.
There is no sacrifice more pleasing to the Lord than when we fall at His Feet and say: “Lord, here I am. I give myself to You without reserve. I don’t want to hold anything back. Take all of me and use me as You so desire.” That’s Romans 12:1!
Wouldn’t you love for Heaven’s record to show that you willingly offered yourself to the Lord? Even if your name wasn’t mentioned once in the records of earth, you could score no higher than to have it recorded in the Lord’s Record.
You may never have your framed mugshot hanging in a corporate Boardroom. Most reading this will probably never have an arena, stadium, or campus residence named after them. Your name may never become a brand name. Kids probably won’t be crying in their mother’s ear: “Mom, please buy me a pair of ‘Ruth Smith’ skates.”
It’s quite unlikely that my name will ever be embedded on a coin or memorialized on a postage stamp. Maybe you feel the same way about yourself. But if it is recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life and the Lord Himself records: ‘she willingly offered herself to the Lord’ – well, how much better could it get than that?!
Will you bow your heart today, as you have done in the past and renew your commitment and deep desire to willingly offer yourself to the Lord without reserve, without holding anything back? The rest of the Christians in your life will never know the details of your intimacy with Christ. Most will never see or take notice of the little things you do for Christ and how you quietly honour Him in your heart and your life – even during the seasons of life when your heart is heavy and broken.
So back to our original question – does anyone even know you exist? The Lord does, and He couldn’t be more aware of you and your circumstances than He is right now – even if you feel all alone in your solitude and insignificance. He couldn’t be more aware of what you quietly volunteer to do just for His sake. It matters to Him about you.
Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.
Warmly in Christ,
Peter Ramsay
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