I was recently reading through the genealogies found in the first chapter of Matthew. We all know that, unless we are research historians or new users of ancestry.com, we might find ourselves speeding through this chapter.
Throughout the passage we find names we recognize and names we do not. Read the first chapter in Matthew and see how many names you recognize. Three names that jump out are: Joram, Jotham and Jechoniah. I don’t know about you, but to me these three names did not suggest a great story or miracle performance. And yet, they are significant.
Joram, Jotham and Jechoniah are significant in the story line of Christ. It is through these three men and others that the story of God’s redemption plan for man has continued throughout generations. The significance of these names is that they impacted you with the story and evidence of saving grace in Christ.
This serves as a reminder that people are significant; your neighbor, a person on the street, an advanced scholar, a young leader who is learning, or a child facing trials and difficulties. Each person is significant. Significance is not determined by the opportunity for or actual cultural importance. Without the significance of the three names mentioned previously, the story would not be the same for you or me. It is also a reminder that our significance in another person’s life may not come in the present, but possibly in the future. Joram, Jotham and Jechoniah lived in early generations between Abraham and David and David to Christ, many generations prior to Christ’s birth, life, resurrection and victory.
The challenge for us is to understand the significance of each person in front of us and the significant role we play in demonstrating and living out obedience, so others can experience the story of Christ. Remind yourself that, as a believer, you are significant. Significance comes with the opportunity to impact others significantly!
“Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but the interests of others.”
Philippians 2:3
