How You Can Humbly Live to Show Everyone Nobody but Jesus

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Have you ever wanted to be famous?

Do you long to be “known” and popular?

Have you ever been tempted to do a little “name dropping” so you could tag along on the celebrity recognition ride?

Luke wrote the following near the beginning of his Gospel:

Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable Theophilus, [“one who loves God”] so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.

Luke 1:3–4

Luke was a historian and well-educated physician . . . and if anyone could use a doctor it was the Apostle Paul who wrote…

[I have] been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. 

2 Corinthians 23b-25a

So, what does all of that have to do with name dropping or our desire for fame and popularity?

Well . . . I paused today to notice the way Luke introduced himself in Acts 16.

So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.

Acts 16:10

It’s easy to miss. I’ve let it go by unnoticed more times than I can count. But it speaks volumes about Dr. Luke.

You see, the pronoun “we” is the only clue given that Luke became a traveling companion of Paul and Silas. That’s humility! No fanfares or proclamations, not even a simple “I joined them” statement.

And Luke’s lesson is a powerful one for each of us. He didn’t want the message to be about him. He wanted his readers to only know what God was doing.

The Lord is always at work in the world and he often uses people to accomplish His purposes. And throughout his writings, Luke gave us an example of humility to follow…

Be bold! Tell people what God is doing in you and around you in ways that faithfully focus on Him and give Him all the glory!

Let’s pray…

A Prayer to Show Everyone Nobody but Jesus

Father, It’s tempting to want recognition and popularity. It’s so easy for me to want to make myself the center of the story. I’m sorry. Please forgive me. I want to honor You and live with humility. I want to live for Your glory.

Please help me remember every day that it is not about me. The purpose of my life is to live in ways that show the world who You are and what You’ve done . . . to show people Your love. And one of the simple ways I can do that is to live focused on “we” not me.

Open my eyes. I want to SEEK You. I want to fill my heart and mind with knowledge of who You are, what You’ve done, and what You are doing. I want You to be the center of my life. And by Your grace, I want to show and tell everyone what I have seen and heard . . . what I have witnessed about the truth of Your love. Thank you for Your grace and mercy. Thank you for Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.

One of my favorite songs is Nobody by Casting Crowns…

 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

I often wonder what the world would be like if every follower of Jesus actively lived with this kind of humble love. If we just wanted everyone to know Jesus, who He is, what He’s done and continues to do for them.

On today’s note write:

Nobody but Jesus!

May God bless you as you rest in the humble “we” of living under God’s love . . . sharing nobody but Jesus.

Click here to read the rest of Acts 16.

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