A couple weeks ago our extended family experienced the addition of another member, with all of us rejoicing in the birth of great-grandchild #47 for “Nonna”, and number plus-one child, grandchild, etc., for the rest of us. One big (usually) happy family!

Does that make #46 or #29 less significant? How about #47 himself, being the last (at least for now) in a very long line? Will #47’s value diminish when #48 comes along?

Ask Nonna T. and she’ll tell you “No way!” She loves all her 8 kids, all her in-love’s (grafted into the family), all 22 grandkids and their spouses, and all 47 of the great-grands. She considers us all precious, significant, and worthy of her love and attention. Why? Because we’re all part of the “famiglia”!

Some outside of our extended family also love/like respect, and value various members of us if they know or have heard of us in a good way. We may even have gained significance in some circles.

Still, it’s nothing like if any of us were of royal blood. When a king or queen, prince or princess adds a family member, the whole world hears about it and deems that baby “significant”. The same for celebrities, sports-stars, etc. Why? Because of who their parents are, and their heritage!

Somehow the Tofilon name doesn’t carry that kind of clout among the billions in our world-population. Neither does at least most of yours.

But we have a much broader, better, significance that reaches far beyond this planet. For all who have been born by the Spirit, through the Son, with the Father as our “Abba”, Dad, each of our names carries value and significance beyond imagination– with Him, His extended family, and the entire population of heaven!

Why? Because of His majestic name! And the position He, in His position, has placed us in.

“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens… When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him… Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands…” Ps. 8:1, 3-6

Who does this apply to? Those with the right family pedigree? Those with high positions in society? Those who achieve noteworthy things, celebrity status, entry into “Who’s Who in…”, and/or get their name into a Hall of Fame? Any of these certainly do bring a sense of significance and satisfaction to the one who attains them.

But none of these cut it in terms of Kingdom significance and worth. Comparing our family name, achievements, position, etc. to the entire universe and the One who made it, will shrink even the biggest ego down to proper size. It’s like two toddlers racing down a small hallway, and the winner going out onto an Olympic track and saying “Hey, everyone, look how great I am!”

There’s only one thing that makes significance and worth apply to us, and that one thing applies to everyone, regardless of background, position, or achievement. That one thing is the One who makes it happen. Ps. 8:5-6 says, “YOU have made him… and crowned him… YOU have given him…”. We can’t do it ourselves or make it happen. But He can, and He has—for all of us who recognize and receive it from Him. Now it’s like Eric Liddell or Usain Bolt picked up one of those toddlers and ran with them in his arms. If the toddler has any sense, they’ll know who to thank!

“For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever!” Rom. 11:36

The next time we question our worth and significance, whether we matter and to who, keep this in mind. The King of kings and Lord of lords of the whole universe has given us His family name and all that comes with it. We don’t have to be a star when He’s placed us “above” all the stars!