“Your name’s in the bible and your name’s in the bible, but mine’s not in the bible.” When I heard Addy Rose say this to her brother and sister, a certain verse came to my mind. I called her in, sat her on my lap and said, “Look, here’s your name in the bible.” And I read to her, “I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valley.” (Song of Solomon 2:1, emphasis mine). Rose. She smiled.
Names matter. Your name matters.
I was listening to the radio when they ran through a list of the top 5 boy and girl names through the first half of 2014. I wondered how a name becomes popular... Some parents pray for a name while others look to their family tree. Some choose based on a favorite sports team, favorite artist or favorite historical or fictional character. Others, I think, create their own names or go for the weirdest they can find.
Still, names matter. Your name matters. But how much do you think it matters?
Do people like your name or do they make fun of it? Do people know your name or are you name-less and unknown? Too many of us want our names to be remembered, to be popular, to be famous, to be praised. So we’re crushed when we hear someone use our name as the target of their criticism. Or we’re angry or depressed when we don’t receive the recognition we long for – the recognition on which we’ve come to build our life and by which we’ve come to measure our meaning and purpose in life.
Names matter, yet maybe in a way different than we imagine.
Jesus once told his disciples that they should rejoice not because of the great works they were doing on earth, but because their names were written in heaven (Luke 10:18). They were excited, rightly so. They were performing and witnessing many miracles! But Jesus knew that while on one day your name might be loved because of what you do, on the next day it might be hated. One day you’ll be successful by someone’s definition, the next day you’ll be a failure. One day you’ll be honored, the next you’ll be forgotten.
If your identity and happiness revolve around your name – what you make of yourself, what others think of you, what you do or don’t accomplish – you will spin out of control.
There’s a better way. There’s a better name.
Jesus’ name was mocked and despised in the mouths of men; He was hated and rejected in their sight (Isaiah 53:3). From every earthly perspective, He was a complete and total failure. His name had become as ugly as His appearance was (Isaiah 53:2). He was forsaken by all, even by His heavenly Father, on the cross (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34). Why? So that we might no longer be forsaken in our sin, condemned justly by a holy God. Rather, because God is also a loving God, we can now find, ask and receive forgiveness in the name of Jesus who has risen from the dead and conquered sin and death. His name is majestic in all the earth (Psalm 8:1). His name is exalted above every other name (Ephesians 1:21; Philippians 2:9). His name is superior and far more excellent than the names of angels (Hebrews 1:4) and of men. His name alone will endure forever and be praised forever (Psalm 135:13).
As a result, your name truly does matter! Your name really is known! Your name is sweet in the mouth of Your heavenly Father, who sought you, found you, and rescued you in Jesus Christ. Your name matters more in the sight of God than in the sight of any man or woman, any crowd or corporation. Your name matters more not because of what you’ve done or where it’s written on earth, but because of what Jesus has done and where He is – in heaven.
Rest your name in Jesus. Let Him read to you and show you where your name is written on His brow, His side, His hands and His feet.
QUESTIONS: Have you put too much emphasis on and stock in your name? Is the foundation of your life and happiness built on your name? Does success feel like failure? Does happiness feel like misery?
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