What’s In a Name?
When I was pregnant with my fifth baby, Andrew and Jordan were six and four years old. They decided they should be the ones to choose a name for the new baby. It didn’t take them very long to agree on the perfect name: SPIDERMAN. Do I always listen to my children? No. And you’re welcome, Daniel (alias Spiderman).
I read about the Cianci family (pronounced see-ann’-see) who named their daughter Nancy Ann. Try out that combo a few times. I questioned the Mosses when they decided to name their son “Pete.” Or how about my Uncle Rick? I’ll just tell you that my maiden name is “Shaw” and leave it at that. Then there was the Blow family. They thought it would be funny to name their son “Crushing.” And what were the Snoddys thinking when they named their child “Limmie B.?” I could go on and tell you about “Getta Fax,” “Sandy Clause” and “Nevil Orange,” but it’s just too sad.
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They might as well have gone to a soap writer for a name! Of course, if they didn’t come away with a motorcycle brand, it would still be something like “Calliope,” “Thorne,” “Tanner,” “Creed” or “Edge.” I’ve heard they even have a “Keemo.” Please, that’s a treatment, not a name.
But who are we really? Can the person you are really be wrapped up in three sections: first, middle and last?
If we’ve put our faith in Christ, we’ve become children of God and we take on His name. That’s who we are! 1 John 3:1 says, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
Placing my identity in my name won’t work. As a matter of fact, if my identity is in anything or anyone other than Jesus Christ and Him crucified, then I’m setting myself up for a major identity crisis. But when I take on His name, I have something to brag about! Psalm 20:7 says, “…we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God.”
It’s amazing what we see people do for fame. They’ll go to all kinds of extremes to pump up their own names. But Isaiah 26:8 says, “Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.” We are a credit to our family name when we’ve learned to focus on His law and His plan – His name and His fame – when our heart’s desire is His glorious renown.
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17). Whatever tag you’ve been given, rejoice in your mission to proclaim the name of the Lord Jesus in everything. You can also rejoice that your name is probably not “Ima Hogg.” Yes, she was a real person. It was probably a pretty tough childhood for both her and her sister “Ura.”
Do you find your identity in Jesus Christ or do you look elsewhere? Learn how to see yourself as God sees you and find out how to become energized in your faith.
