Why You Matter More Than You Think
Summer is officially here. School is out. Pools are open. Family vacations are booked. People are in. People are out. The rhythm of life has shifted. Even for something as simple as playing video games.
My son has a friend he plays Roblox (an online video game) with that’s spending the summer in Nigeria. Because of the time difference, they haven’t been able to play together like they usually do. And honestly? It’s just not the same. The game loses some of its spark when the team’s not whole.
It’s a simple truth, but one that echoes across far more than video games:
It’s never the same when someone’s missing. When you don’t have enough players. When someone leaves. Or is out for the summer. It’s not the same is it?
Team is critical.
In Acts 1, before the Holy Spirit descends at Pentecost, God is prepping His people like a restaurant kitchen before a Sunday rush—stocking the shelves, sharpening the knives, aligning the staff. Everything must be ready. Everything matters. This was the final countdown.
Before the Holy Spirit fills the church, something critical to the team had to take place. The church wasn’t whole. Judas was gone and they needed a replacement. Not because God’s mission couldn’t move forward without him, but because wholeness matters in the body of Christ. The absence of one person was felt.
Acts 1 tells us that after Judas’ betrayal and death, the apostles felt his absence deeply. He wasn’t just a teammate—they describe him as “one of our number and shared in our ministry.” (Acts 1:17)
They could’ve shrugged it off. “It’s fine, we’ve still got 11. That’s plenty.”
But they didn’t.
Why?
Because the number 12 wasn’t random. Just as the 12 tribes formed the foundation of Israel, the 12 apostles formed the foundation of the Church.
Wholeness matters.
The absence of one weakened the mission. The church knew they couldn’t step into the next season unless the team was complete. So they prayed, they discerned, and they appointed Matthias.
Too many Christians think their absence doesn’t matter.
But the truth is:
You are essential.
Your presence is powerful.
Your part is irreplaceable.
We all love a good Mission Impossible movie. Think about it—there’s always a driver, a hacker, the muscle, the disguise expert, and then there’s Tom Cruise sprinting insanely long distances at top speed. But if just one of them is missing? The mission fails.
It’s similar with the Church.
When the team isn’t whole, God’s mission doesn’t fail. But it suffers.
Not because God is weak, but because He’s chosen to work through His people.
Through you.
Too many Christians are content to be saved, but not engaged. Willing to be set free within but unwilling to be used beyond. That “beyond” is God’s mission to redeem and restore the world. To bring light into darkness. To bring heaven to earth. That’s not just a job for pastors, missionaries, or people with microphones. That’s your assignment too.
Whether you’re on stage or in the shadows, your role matters. The mission still needs you. We still need you. Your community needs you.
Don’t minimize your role.
When you stop showing up…
Stop giving…
Assume someone else will pray, teach, disciple, serve, sacrifice, etc…
We suffer.
You suffer.
The people who need what only you bring to the table suffer.
The mission of God won’t stop with your absence,
but it’s not complete without your participation.
We are not whole without you.