Names Are Important
I have noticed some interesting names of people over the years. Some very famous people have a “stage name” and sometimes it’s only one name – like Madonna, Beyoncé, Cher, etc.… They each have legal names that they would purchase property in and have credit cards issued in their legal names. Nicknames are also another version of a name. My close college friends all have nicknames – in fact, none of use our real names when we’re together. Nicknames are often funny and affectionate to both the person giving the nickname and the person receiving.
I think names are important to us. I think parents should put great thought into naming their children. Names have meaning and significance for the lifetime of a person. My name eventually becomes part of what I’m known for. When someone says my name, they might have a warmth toward me or possibly anger, depending on their personal experience with me. My name is connected to my reputation and my character.
Following the story of Jacob, it’s interesting that God changes his name. Jacob also renames some of the locations where something significant happens twice in his life. Check this out….
9 Now that Jacob had returned from Paddan-aram, God appeared to him again at Bethel. God blessed him, 10 saying, “Your name is Jacob, but you will not be called Jacob any longer. From now on your name will be Israel.” So God renamed him Israel.
14 Jacob set up a stone pillar to mark the place where God had spoken to him. Then he poured wine over it as an offering to God and anointed the pillar with olive oil. 15 And Jacob named the placeBethel (which means “house of God”), because God had spoken to him there. (Israel 35:9-10, 14-15 NLT)
I started thinking of the significance of everyone’s name – this is how we are known and identified. My legal identification has my full legal name and my social security number is connected to my full legal name. One of my favorite name stories is of a kid who is a family friend, who decided at a young age that he didn’t like his given name. He started telling everyone this name that he had chosen. All his friends called him by his new name and his parents even started using his new name. On his 16thbirthday, his name was legally changed to the name he had chosen. It took me a minute to quit calling by the name he was originally given. Most people have a last name which is their family name and a first name, which sets them apart inside the family.
The places we live also have a name. Our streets and roads have a name. Our city, state and nation are all carrying names that carry the reputation of the overall characterizations of behavior. My first and last name set me apart from others with the same first name. When I became a follower of Jesus, I started wear His name – Christian. I want to be known as a Christ follower. I want the activities of my life to reflect my commitment to my Creator. I believe that Jesus came to earth and lived a perfect life and became the ultimate sacrifice for sin and made a way for everyone to have access to God Himself. His name is above every other name. (Philippians 2:9)
Pressing On!
Dwayne