What Is In Our Names?
Good Morning Friends,
Luke says that our names are written down in heaven. Jesus says that he will call us by name. Believers are given names or titles like Christian, Disciple, Child of God or Saint after they choose to obey. As Christians we have taken on the name of Christ. With that name comes a responsibility. In Proverbs, that gem for daily living, it states that the value of a name is substantial… something we should not discount. Yes, in today’s devotional and scripture we ask if we honor the name given to us, if we stand as victors with Christ, we ask if our character and life holds sufficient evidence to convict us of being Christian. We ask what parents were thinking when they named their children Phelony or Hashtag. We ask…What Is In Our Names?
Scripture: A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.
Proverbs 22:1 (NRSV)
Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Luke 10:20 (NRSV)
He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.”
Luke 11:2-4 (NRSV)
“Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.
John 10:1-9 (NRSV)
Message: People where I shop often have name tags and their names are often creative. I found it interesting that my friends and bell ringers from Hong Kong all have very Christian first names. There is a lot to the names we have been given. When we hear our names being called, and the intonation of the voice calling, we respond. There is power in knowing and giving a name. There is something very personal about our names and nicknames too. The Bible is filled with people who get a name change… Abram, “Exiled Father,” becomes Abraham, the “Father of Many”… Sarai, “Princess,” becomes Sarah, “Mother of All Nations.” Jacob becomes Israel…Simon becomes Peter, meaning “Rock”. And for the record Paul did not have a name change, but in fact had two names, one Jewish, Saul and one Roman name… Paul. It is worth mentioning that by all accounts the Apostle Paul was short and balding and bowlegged very physically different from the tall hansom King of Israel, his Jewish name sake. Paul’s parents had hope and anticipation of a great future for their son. The giving of names was a powerful act of hope, control or revenge. Adam, for example, named the animals and after the fall Adam names his wife Eve or Zoe meaning, “living thing” or “propagator of life,” or in the Hebrew as I understand from one of my friends, HAVVAH which is similar to the word for snake… HVVH. OUCH…Adam sinned more than once in the garden if he wanted Eve to remember her sin forever. Maybe Adam should have named her “Forgiven.” The names we have changes our perspective and how people react to us. Laura means, honor and victory, Amy means, friend. John means the LORD is Gracious. And yes I have had a double helping. Take the name Gladys… You expect her to be glad don’t you? She is. That is why you do not see too many parents naming their sons Judas or daughters Jezebel. There is a lot to the names we have been given. When we hear our names being called, and the intonation of the voice calling, we respond. To have something named after us is a great honor. To be called by God, by name, is the greatest honor. And to want to have God call us… means we want to know His plan for our lives. We want His guidance and desire His direction in the circumstances of life so we can make wise choices. People are called into service by the Holy Spirit, discerning what they hope to be the will of God for them. But with so many voices calling our names and wanting our attention and the Holy Spirit working in so many places, the real question is how do I know the voice of God?
Pray that our names bring honor to our parents and to God. Pray we have an identity with the name of Jesus. Pray we experience Jesus as the Wonderful Counselor, the Prince of Peace, the Mighty God, and the Everlasting Father of a new creation. Pray God has our name spelled right in the great book. Pray we recognize when it is God calling us.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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