In this session we are going to hit on a truth that is so powerful, but yet so elusive.  The truth is not elusive, but the concept, understanding and belief is a bit wobbly for so many.  It has to do with the concept of significance. Some times we think we know what it means, but then yet, it is what we inwardly desire and we don’t know how to describe it or most importantly achieve it.

SIGNIFICANCE: the quality of being worthy of attention, importance.

When we get a big raise, it can be a “significant” raise.  If we get a surprsingly  large tax return, more than normal, it would be a significant return. Think of it as “one that stands out One that is greater than the standard or regular one. If we relate to sports it can be a season to remember for a team or an athlete, it would be known as a significant year.

When it comes to our daily life and our internal thinkings, that is when the trouble stirs.  Questions about “am I worthy of attention?”, “do I matter?”, “does anyone care?”.  Those questions can then lead to thoughts that we own. “I can’t…”, “I am worthless”, “I don’t matter.”, “No one wants me around”, “I’m a failure”, “I am a mistake”.

Significant or Significance: what is you thoughts and do you even use that word to describe yourself?

Sometimes the desire for significance can be consuming and very damaging. There is a very destructive behavior called codependency that describes many individuals that strive for significance.  The healthy and beneficial approach to this challenge to be significant or even in the mental challenge of if I am significant, we can to to the truth of the bible.

Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. – John 15:5 NLT

Jesus declares that He is the vine, and we are a part of the vine. We are connected with him. Another way of looking at it is that when we are all together and connected to the vine (Christ) we do represent the whole living plant.  You are a representation of Jesus, you are a living part of the true vine.  You are not set a part, distant or separate from him.

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit. – John 15:16 NKJV

Jesus went on to remind us how our connection to Him happened. We did not make the bold move and commit to Him and He then is coming along with us. It is the other way around. He chose you. He made a bold first move and believed you were SIGNIFICANT and chose you to be included in what represents him.

Sometimes when we think about being apart of him, we begin to compare to others. We look at what others do, or what others are like and we don’t see ourselves as qualified or looking right, acting right, but when we look at a healthy tree, we see the full shape of the tree, but in detail, a tree is very intricate and it is made up of many branches and leaves. It is not just one leaf or branch that represents the whole tree.

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? – 1 Corinthians 3:16 NKJV

As we walk through this life as a Christian, we hear songs and people saying that the same power that raised Christ from the dead is in us. That it is Christ in us that makes us different. Well, we need to understand, that is not something we produce or create. God has made a decision to allow you to be injected with the Holy Spirit, it is in you, and you house the most precious gift God has personally given to living creatures. His perfect, divine spirit. We should be honored and respective of what we have truly been given.

I was reminded this week by someone that was visiting and helping out another person at their home and the individual shared how sad they were by how the friend would leave the house a mess. Not just clothes laying around, but dishes, trash, and it was just a mess. The person was heart broke, that the person did not take better care of what they had. They did not value what they had and they just let it be trashed. That is no different in our personal life. When we don’t take of ourselves, it is just like the person that is not attending to their house.

Then the next challenge we face when we are told these truths about our significance is that we discredit who we are, but God has more truth for us…

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. ¹⁸ All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹ that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. ²¹ For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. – 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 ESV

Each of us represents and is used for Christ’s sake. We have the full power and representation of Christ (we are the tree, not a leaf, or mere branch). We make up and represent the tree of life to the world.

If you don’t think that helps with you feeling and understanding your significance, check these truths out…

For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. – Ephesians 2:6 NLT

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. – Ephesians 2:10 NLT

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. – Ephesians 2:10 ESV

Then we can rap this whole context together in the Message translation…

Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing. – Ephesians 2:7-10 MSG

Now we could say, that we hear and understand what God has done for us, but it is hard to accept, knowing who we are, we don’t feel like we are worthy of what God believes.  So let us reword that whole thought… I don’t believe God has all the information and he has made a bad decision. Stop right there and fully understand that God actually knows ALL about you. The stuff you are owning, the stuff you are hiding and the stuff you still don’t have a clue about. With all that you are, the divine one has picked you and included you. You can lift your head up, you can approach him. He is for you, not against you.

Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. – Ephesians 3:12 NLT

You can succeed in this life, you can make a difference, you are important, you are finely made, you represent the one, true, living, God….

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. – Philippians 4:13 NLT

When those attacks come, whether it is by others or even our own voice, let us always remember that it is “through Christ” we are powerful. It is Christ in us that provides our foundation. It is is the honor of being chosen by God that makes us worthy.

For an overview of the last three weeks on “Who I Am In Christ”, please grab a reference from our links at the bottom or go directly here… “Who I Am In Christ“

The New King James Version. (1982). (Jn 15:16). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

Peterson, E. H. (2005). The Message: the Bible in contemporary language (Eph 2:7–10). Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.