Our Significance

Our Significance

Read: John 14:16-21

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”

John 14:18

“Best of all, God is with us.”

—John Wesley

IN WORD We crave significance. In our seemingly never- ending search for it, we look to those who love us, the opinions of others, the satisfaction of our own accomplishments, our positions and promotions, our pleasures, and many other false measures. Millions of dollars are spent every year on counselors who will help us find this sense of importance. People have ended their lives when it seems forever elusive. We want to know that we matter.

Anything we can find significance in will eventually prove empty. The trophies, the promotions, our work, our popularity, the love we crave—none of it lasts. Well, almost none. There’s one source of significance that counts for everything: the fact that we are children of the Most High God.

Jesus told His disciples—and through them, He tells us—that we are not orphans. We have a Father. We may think that children of presidents, kings, and the rich and famous are in a privileged position. Inwardly we are often jealous of them. But their privilege doesn’t match ours, because their parents do not match ours. Our Father is the author of all that is—even of their parents’ fame and power. Jesus tells us to pray to the Almighty God as “Father,” John tells us that God gave to those who believe in Jesus the right to become His children (John 1:12), and Paul says the Spirit of God’s Son is in our hearts crying out “Abba, Father” (Galatians 4:6).

IN DEED Isn’t it ridiculous that we search for significance in anything else? That’s like trying to find beauty in graffiti when we’re offered the works of Michelangelo. Why would we persist in such an absurdity?

Are you feeling unimportant? lonely? discouraged? empty? directionless? You are not an orphan. Meditate on your role as a child of the Most High. Let it really sink in. Let it consume you. It’s incredibly significant.