Recently, my husband led our Bible class in a discussion on Luke 1. One of his observations from the text was that the entire passage discusses John the Baptist as great, but not the greatest. Even as his birth is being foretold, he is going to do great things, sure,  but he is going to be doing them unto the Lord who is quickly coming behind him. Just a few months after John is born, Jesus the Messiah will come. And while John will be doing great, important Kingdom work, he isn’t the focus. Most people, once Jesus arrives and begins His ministry, will forget about John.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I struggle in my John role. This season of life has put me in a very distinctively John position. Now there’s an extent to which all of us are Johns in that we aren’t Jesus and we will never be the ones receiving glory or even trying to receive that glory that wholly and absolutely belongs to Christ. But certainly there are people doing kingdom work who are forefront, public eye people, and then there are those who are just never meant to be in the spotlight. I think about Paul and Silas (Silas is important, but we don’t hear much about him). Peter, John – they become super important apostles, but what of the rest? What does Matthias end up doing? Thomas? Peter’s own brother, Andrew? Probably great work for the kingdom. We just don’t know, and aren’t meant to.

I’m more used to an out there role. Involved in the Bible study, teaching the classes, writing all the things. But right now, I’m John. I’m Silas. I’m Thomas. I’m really trying to work, but I’m not the one you’re gonna see. I rarely even see myself as doing all the work in the kingdom. I see my role as less somehow, and that’s difficult.

The truth is, my role is important. It’s important that I watch Anna so her daddy can study with others. It’s important that I take on some long ‘single parent’ hours so my husband can minister to others and do out there, noticeable kingdom work. It’s hard. It doesn’t feel important. It seems messy and less somehow. But it isn’t. Robert is going to be getting any work done if he’s constantly interrupted by an inquisitive 2 year old. Bible studies aren’t going to be effective when you’re constantly having to stop and say, excuse me, let me wrangle this wild child.

Let me be clear: no part of Kingdom work is about us. Ever. God always gives the increase. All that we do is about giving glory to God. But there are some members of the body who are arms and legs and feet and eyes and noses and mouths. And then there are those of us who are valves, tendons, nerves. Important, vital parts, just not necessarily ones you think of often. Not ones that get a lot of attention unless they’re not working. That can be discouraging sometimes, especially if you’re used to being a different role. But all of us, so long as we are working for the Master, are important to His cause. All of us, so long as we are working for His glory and in His will, are useful and effective. Even if you don’t feel like it. Even if you feel useless or little or small. You are important. Your work is important. Keep working for Him.

I’m encouraged by both John the Baptist and his parents because they knew their role would always be secondary in the narrative, and they embraced it. It was never about them; it was always about whatever way they could contribute to God’s great, unfolding plan. May the same be said of all of us. Not about us Lord, ever. “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, But to Your name give glory, Because of Your mercy, Because of Your truth”  (Psalm 115:1).

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As a total aside, can I just say how blessed I am to be the help meet to my husband? I have confidence that every single day, he is involved in great work for the Lord. There aren’t words to describe how that fills my heart with joy and love and pride and happiness and every kind of fullness from the Lord. I am so, so thankful that God has allowed me to have this role – albeit secondary – to my husband. It is a blessing and honor from God, and I know He sees me and sees our marriage and blesses it because it is all about Him. I pray it always will be. And I pray that at my weakest moments — my frustrated, struggling moments — my husband also knows that I am thankful for this role, this life we have together. Sometimes I might get to be his Priscilla, but other times, I might be Peter’s wife. And that’s ok. Because God is so, so good, and blesses and blesses again.