What’s in a Name?
Good Morning Friends,
Luke says that our names are written down in heaven. 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. So today 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’s in a Name?
Scripture: A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.
Proverbs 22:1 (NRSV)
Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” But not all have obeyed the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ. But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have; for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”
Romans 10:12-18 (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)
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17 (NRSV)
Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:9-11 (NRSV)
To all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
John 1:12 (NIV)
Message: Over and over again in Scripture we read, “In my name,” “In Jesus’ name,” or “In his name.” But what does it all mean? We know from scripture that God values a good name and that name after name in the Bible reflect the purpose to which the person has been called. We have been given authority to name things and consider the naming of a child as a holy act. A person’s name implies a heritage and expectation. And no name is more important in this regard than the name of Jesus. We are baptized in His name and we are called to serve in His name and we cry out with His name for mercy in a hope built on a belief. So if we do not believe that Jesus is better than everything else then we will neglect our salvation…if we put money or power or anything else before Him, the result is disaster. The Bible has around 250 names for Jesus Christ perhaps because no one name is sufficient to express how really amazingly great He will always be…And yet he came to us in lowly form so that he might serve us…weaving it all together from Alpha to Omega. In creation He grants us the dignity and freedom of choice, and then takes on the consequences of our wrong choices. He does this with the honesty and courage of a creator that lives in the love and reality of what He has created, willing to suffer pain…knowing our pain…tasting our sin, our death so we might know life. When we call on His name… When we confess our sins…When we pray that God would stretch us and bend us to His purpose, then the healing in us can begin.
His name is Jesus and His name means God Saves. And we are to see that there is wonder in His name, there is wisdom in His name and there is wealth in His name. Friend’s there is the promise of prophecy in the name of Jesus. There is deliverance in the name of Jesus. There is a miracle in His name that can warm us on this cold morning.
Pray in the name of Jesus that He calls us by name. Pray that we hear His voice and follow. Pray we gather together in praise of His name. Pray we bring honor to the name we have been given by our parents. Pray we as Christians bring honor to the name of Christ. Pray for His gracious name’s sake and for our sake.
Pray that the Word of God, in the name of Jesus, with the power of the Holy Spirit be activated in us for a holy purpose. Pray we realize that our own name is bankrupt. Pray we realize that because of His name we can boldly go before the throne. Pray we identify with the person of Jesus Christ. Pray we realize that Christ has authority. Pray we submit to Jesus’ will. Pray we realize that we represent Christ’s interests here on earth. Pray we are expecting a miracle because of the value and power of the name and person of Jesus who joins with us in purposeful prayer. Pray we realize that Jesus has invited, urged, and commanded us to pray in his name and has promised incredible results. Pray therefor that when we do acts of service in Christ’s name that we glorify God.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 