I was thinking the other day how much the names of people have changed.
There are many new and strange sounding names given to people at birth,
names that cause you to really wonder where they originated! Names have
very special meaning to them, or used to anyway. When we chose our children's
names we did so with a great deal of thought and consideration. My daughter's
name Justine means "just one" or "justice" and that is usually what she
likes to see take place. Justine does not like to see others treated
unfairly and has always stood up for the person who was picked on by others,
the underdog, so to speak. She is sensitive to minorities and usually
befriends them. Her middle name is Elizabeth which means "consecrated
to God". I can proudly say that Justine has definitely surrendered her
life to Christ and seeks to please and glorify Him daily. Next came our
first son Paul and we chose to name him after his father. Paul means
"small", which is anything but what he was at birth, weighing in at a
whopping 9 lbs. 10 oz. and 22 & 1/2 inches long! :-) Like his father,
his middle name is Augustine which means "revered". Paul knows his father
is a respected man, (though not always popular!) and we continually remind him that
in order to achieve such a reputation, one must live a life that is a
testimony to Christ and can be respected by others. We chose the name
of Luke for our youngest son because of the scripture verse in 2 Tim.
4:11 where the apostle Paul says, "Only Luke is with me..." Truly Luke
has been a loyal companion to his older brother Paul and is his greatest
fan! He willingly seeks to meet Paul's needs and desires above his own.
He has a wonderful sense of humor and is very sensitive to everyone's
feelings. Luke's name means "light" and Luke definitely brings light
to our family! My children enjoy hearing again and again why we picked
those names for them. It's fun to find out why you were named what you
were by your parents and then discover how much your name really ends
up fitting your character - or is it that your character really ends up
fitting your name....
Why do you think so much attention is given to names in the Bible?
I think you'll find that it's because names in the Bible did actually
often represent a person’s character. God gave many Bible people new names
(Abraham, Sarah, Peter). Their new names were symbols of how God had changed
their lives. As a matter of fact, if you'll take a moment right now to
read Genesis chapter 32 verses 22-32, you'll see just how Jacob's character
had changed. Jacob, the ambitious deceiver, had now become Israel, the
one who struggles with God and overcomes....
Vs. 27-28 says, "And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said,
Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel:
for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed."
We find that in Jacob's case, a character quality in his life that had
a history of being destructive was not being directed toward God and channeled
for good. Hence, Jacob continued his wrestling match all night just to
be blessed of God! He was persistent. God encourages persistence in all
areas of our lives, including the spiritual, for that is where HIS name
comes into the picture.... Where in your spiritual life do you need more
persistence? Are you working hard at bringing glory to God through your
name? Strong character develops as you and I struggle through tough conditions
as Jacob did. Ladies, glass, china, and reputation are easily cracked
and never well mended, so diligently consider what qualities you are
giving to the meaning of your name today! A reputation once broken may
possibly be repaired, but the world will always keep their eyes on the
spot where the crack was, amen? The reputation of a thousand years may
be determined by the conduct of one hour. If you don't believe me, consider
Christ's behavior on the cross that precious hour He was crucified...
What glory He brought to God's holy name that day, amen?
Matthew 6:9, "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art
in heaven, Hallowed be thy name."
Hallowed means to be held in reverence and awe of holiness. Perhaps you
didn't realize this ladies, but God's name was so sacred to the Old Testament
Jew that it was never pronounced by human lips! Since this particular
verse represents a prayer that is directed toward the Father, only a child
of God who has been born again can rightly pray this prayer and understand
the holiness of God's character. Yet, do God's children truly hallow
their Father's name??
Turn with me now to Exodus chapter 3 and read verses 1 through 22. I
want to focus briefly on verses 14-15 which talk about God's name...
"And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel,
and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you;
and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou
say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you."
Ladies, to honor God’s name is to honor Him, amen? The Egyptians had many
gods by many different names. But here Moses wanted to know God’s name
so the Hebrew people would know exactly who had sent him to them. God
called himself I AM, a name describing His eternal power and unchangeable
character. In a world where values, morals, and laws change constantly,
we can find stability and security in our unchanging God, amen? The God
who appeared to Moses is the same God who can live in us today! Hebrews
13:8 says God is the same “yesterday and to day and forever.” Because
God’s nature is stable and trustworthy, we are free to follow and enjoy
Him rather than spend our time trying to figure Him out like we so often
try to do! God’s name is like His signature guarantee of His promises.
He is unsearchable and there is a mystery to His existence that none of
us can fathom... I AM THAT I AM - what a great and mighty name!! A name
to be hallowed, honored.... Let's turn to Exodus chapter 20 and read
verses 1-21 and find out how we are to use that great name of God's, focusing
specifically on verse 7 which says:
"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy god in vain; for the Lord
will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain."
The Bible clearly shows that disrespectful use of God’s name is an insult
to Him!! God’s name is special because it carries His personal identity.
Using it frivolously or in a curse is so common today - even among God's
children - that we may fail to realize how serious it is. Did you stop
to realize that the way we use God’s name conveys how we really feel about
Him?? Ladies, we should respect His name and use it appropriately, speaking
it in praise or worship rather than in curse or jest. We should not take
lightly the abuse or dishonor of God's name nor allow it to take place
in our presence. Neither should we use those names that come as close
as possible to the same meaning of God such as "gaw" or "gosh -almighty"
or "dadgum" or any other similar "Christian" swear words that we have
created on our own, amen? All that we say or do ought to glorify God!
When you take the name of Jesus with you today, please be sure you are
honoring it as you carry His name around through yours! You see ladies,
when we try in the flesh to make a name for ourselves, we lose our reputation;
but when we give our reputation to Christ, we gain a name for ourselves.
Genesis 12:2, "And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless
thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:"
Imagine the God of this universe offering to make our name great! How
humbling to think that the Lord cares so much for our reputation while
we care so little about His! How has the meaning of your name changed
since salvation, dear lady? We've got a new name written down in glory,
but does the world know that?? Does your name hold a totally different reputation
than it use to, or has it lost it's impact altogether due to your selfishness
and lack of concern for the cause of Christ? Let's you and I give some
serious thought to God's reputation in us today, amen? Pick the right
name for yourself and your Lord!
1 Chron. 16:29, "Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name..."
The name of Jesus is so sweet, I love it's music to repeat;
It makes my joys full and complete, the precious name of Jesus!
I love the name of Him whose heart knows all my griefs and bears a part;
who bids all anxious fears depart - I love the name of Jesus!
That name I fondly love to hear, It never fails my heart to cheer;
It's music dries the falling tear - exalt the name of Jesus!
No word of man can ever tell How sweet the name I love so well;
O let it's praises ever swell, O praise the name of Jesus!
"Jesus" O how sweet the name, "Jesus" every day the same;
"Jesus" let all the saints proclaim it's worthy praise forever!
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000
Pamela A. Iannello
