Musing – How Significant Are You?

Hebraic Musing – How Significant Are You?

There are two distinct ways to try answering this question which gets to a core issue for all of us. Everyone is seeking significance.* We will answer the question “How significant are you?” later.  Meanwhile –

Where does the world encourage us to find our significance? 

·      In advertisements:  If you drive the right car, wear the right clothes, live in the right neighborhood, have the right education, wear the right perfume, carry the right credit card, …….  you will be significant (according the prompting of advertisements).

·      Amongst your peers:  If you take credit for accomplishments and brag (or even mention) what you’ve done, or your title or position.  Jesus called out the Pharisees for the way they strutted for significance.  “Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long;  they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;  they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi.'”  Matthew 23:5-7 NIV

Who do you want to be rewarded by?  Here is how Jesus answers in Matt.6:1: “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them.   If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”  And another answer in Luke 11:5-6:  “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men.  I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.   But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”  

When “Reward” is mentioned about 60 times in the Bible, it is like a double edge sword.  Who do you want to reward you?   Why did Jesus have to tell us “I do not give to you as the world gives.”?   John14:27

The key question - How Significant Are You to the God of the Universe?  To answer, look at the examples we have of “Unity” or “United-ness” or “Abiding” we have with the God-head!  Such Intimacy!  Union!  Oneness!

·      “I in them and you in me.  May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”  John 17:23

·      7 “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and …”John 15:5***

·       “until we all reach unity in the faith”  Ephesians 4:13

·       “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!” ♫  Psalm 133:1

·      “If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.”  Romans 6:5

·      “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit,…”  Philippians  2:1

·      “By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.” 1 Jn4:13***

·      “As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and … and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him. Now, little children, abide in Him…”  1 John 2:27-28***

Points to ponder   or   RSVP

Do we fully appreciate that the God of the Universe has revealed
all three persons of Himself to you!    Isa.64:4  &  1 Cor.2:9-10

If you divide the infinite love of God by the number of people in your church,
how much love does God have for you?**

How significant are you in the world?   vs.   How significant are you to God?

♫ We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord, And we pray that our unity will one day be restored….♫   

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                          December 3, 2019

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

*     Inspired by Lesson #8 of “The Truth Project” by Focus on the Family.
**   In mathematics --   infinity / 652 = infinity
*** NASB;  all other references are from NIV