Somebody Else

There is much work to be done in the Lord’s Kingdom today. Zealous preachers and teachers are needed. Congregations need godly elders. VBS programs and nurseries need volunteers. Facilities need upgrades. The sick need to be visited. Missionaries need supporters. Inspiring worship songs need to be composed. Edifying books need to be written. Camps need workers. The government needs righteous legislators. Businesses need ethical leaders. Schools need to be established. Hospitals need to be built. The homeless need care. Children need to be adopted. The lost need the gospel shared. New churches need to be planted. The needs seem overwhelming. 

I turned to a man near me. Assistance is needed. Would you please consider helping?” 

“Who, me? I’m sorry, you’ll have to find somebody else,” he replied. 

I started asking everyone I could find. The answer was always the same: “Somebody else should be able to help you with that.” The search intensified as the needs accumulated, yet I still could not find anyone by the name of “Somebody Else.” 

I begged, “Won’t you please tell me where I might find Somebody Else?” Nearly everyone seemed to know and think highly of him, but no one knew where he was. 

“He must be very busy tending to all these needs. Since I cannot find him, I will earnestly pray for wisdom on where to find this mysterious Mr. Else,” said I to myself. 

The Lord responded, “Somebody Else often goes by another name, which is Servant. There aren’t very many of them, but sometimes all you need is one.” 

“In dire times of old, My people often searched for Somebody Else, too. Moses at first wanted Somebody Else to deliver the Hebrews from Egypt. Do you recall where Gideon hid while waiting for Somebody Else to help Israel? King Saul waited for Somebody Else to defeat Goliath. I searched for a man in Ezekiel’s day to stand in the gap because they thought Somebody Else would. 

“Abram became Somebody Else during his journey away from the paganism of Ur. The prophet Isaiah was a man of unclean lips before becoming Somebody Else. I would also remind you of times in the gospel accounts where I called sinners to repentance so they could be Somebody Else. Paul suffered much for becoming Somebody Else for the sake of the kingdom. There are many ‘one-another’ commands I have also given to My church. These cannot happen without Somebody Else, either. 

“You have been saved by grace through faith for good works which have been prepared in advance for you to do. It is YOU, my child, who needs to be Somebody Else today. Will you please step up to serve?”