21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles. Acts 1:21-26

The apostles presented the people with a choice of two men to fill the void left by Judas Iscariot. The people chose Matthias but throughout the rest of Scripture we don’t read a lot about him.

Nor do we read a lot about “the other guy, Joseph (Justus) Barsabbas. What happened to him? Even though he wasn’t formally chosen as an apostle, he probably still held a leadership role in the early church. He was obviously qualified enough to be in the Top Two. Like so many people we read about one time in the Bible, we don’t know the kind of life he lived, the number of people he told about his Master, or his family. We only have a name as a starting point.

And so it is with us. Most reading this will continue to live in obscurity, never achieving fame or great fortune. The great missionary William Carey said it best, “I can plod.” Day after day, week after week, and year after year he plodded, faithfully serving however he could.

Joseph Barsabbas probably plodded.You plod. You don’t solve the world’s problems but you do what you can to take care of your family, attend church regularly, and witness when you can.

Continue doing what you’re doing. Be faithful. Do the hard things when they’re the hardest to do. Plod as Joseph Barsabbas, William Carey, and millions of others before you have done.