The Significance of the Insignificant

Luke 2:8-11
(8) And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. (9) An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. (10)But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. (11) Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

Luke 2:13
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

Luke 2:14-15
(14) “Glory to God in the highest heavens
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
(15) When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

God had good news to tell the world. The news was so important that God sent an Angel accompanied by other singing angels to come and announce it. Who should God tell first about this great significant news?

God had an option to appoint a prophet but He didn’t. God had an option to write it up in the sky but He didn’t. God had an option to send a loud voice that everyone would hear but He didn’t. God had an option to call the elite of the earth or even rulers and task them with the assignment to share the news with us, but He didn’t.

Whoever you share the news with first is considered important to you. Whoever you choose to ignore in telling your good news, has lost significance in your life. Who would God choose to tell the good news that He has for humanity?

If a person who you consider to be a friend has good news and they don’t tell you or they tell you last, your friendship could be an illusion in relation to that news. If you are left out on financial matters, you don’t matter in their finances. If you are left out in their health updates or academic issues, in that area you don’t matter.

Many of us live in relationships that ended long ago but are waiting for a reason to actually end officially. We could be living in denial. It is important to always evaluate your relevance and work to improve it or move on. Mark timing and forward marching are all parade activities but know the difference. You could be busy mark timing or moving forward.

God had great news and He chose to deliver it to an insignificant group of people. Insignificant in our perception. Insignificant in comparison to who else we think should have received the news. By this action, God highlighted the significance of the insignificant.

Herod was there but God didn’t tell him. Pilate was there but God didn’t tell him. Simeon was there. Prophet Anna was there. Zechariah the priest was there. Religious and civic leaders were there. God chose unnamed shepherds. The significance of the insignificant!

The shepherds are not named to encourage us that any name can be significant with God. Your name may not trigger any memory but it has value before God. Your name may not bring up anything on Google except social media accounts but you matter. God puts value on those who are insignificant.

Mary the mother of Jesus was chosen to give birth to Jesus. She was not significant until God appointed her. Gideon was in his own words insignificant but God chose him anyway. Some insignificant people became well known to us after God chose them. Others who were insignificant were called by God and made significant but remained unknown. God is the one who makes us and not us ourselves.

Are you significant in your own assessment? Do not look down upon the seemingly insignificant. God could surprise you by making them significant. God can bypass you and favor people who least expect God’s favor. Treat everyone with respect. God’s choice of important persons has a different criterion from ours.

The significance of the insignificant is a favor from God to the downtrodden and a caution to the proud. When people look down on you and make you seem insignificant, trust in God He will make you Significant. If circumstances work against you and you seem to be going through failure after failure and indeed insignificance seems to be your portion, don’t give up, God will make you significant in His time. The significance of the insignificant is in God!

God of heaven, make me Significant. God of heaven, save me from feelings and beliefs of insignificance. In triumph remind me of humility. In failure grant me hope. When I interact with people better than me, remind me of the significance of the insignificant. When I interact with people lower than me and who seem insignificant compared to me, remind me of the significance of the insignificant, in Jesus’s name, Amen!

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