John 1:42 - What did you call me ..........

"Jesus looked at him and said, 'You are Simon son of John,  You will be called Cephas' (which, when translated, is Peter)"

Name changes are vitally important.  In fact, they are critical and not to be done without tremendous thought and care.  When Israel was taken captive into Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar changed the names of the Israelites to Persian varieties, thereby encouraging them to change their loyalty, to give them a new identity, from Israel to Persia.  For some it worked, but not for Daniel.  He would not allow his mind to be manipulated in that manner.  He would not allow who he was, his identity to be altered.  This could be construed as a bad name change.

But when God changes our name, that is something else entirely.  The Old Testament is replete with those whose names were changed by God.  Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, Queen Esther, and Naomi lead the list.  And in each instance, with a change of name came a change of character and identity.  And with that came a new direction and calling.   It was no different with Peter.

And neither is it with us.  When we received Jesus as our Savior, our given names were not changed but another was added to it.  Christian.  A name that moved us from the earthly realm to the heavenly realm.  A name, that if adhered to properly, changes our character, our behavior, our way of thinking and responding to external stimuli.  Christian.  Follower of Christ.  A New Identity.  A new direction and a new calling.   It sets us apart and calls us to a higher standard, a heavenly standard.  This name tells the world to whom we are committed.  It is a name to be honored and revered by the life we lead.

The world may try and sully our name but it can only do as much as we give permission for.  The only way our name can be damaged is by the way we ourselves treat it.  If we do and say things that tarnish the name "Christian", then we have given the world permission to abuse it.

How are you treating your new name?  Is it shining brightly or does it need a bit of polishing to remove some tarnish?  What would Jesus think of the way you are using it?

"Loving Jesus, yours is the sweetest name of all.  I love to say it......Jesus.  My desire is for my name to be as sweet in Your ears as Yours is to mine.  I want to be a pleasing sound to you, a sweet fragrance lifting up to you.  Help me, Lord Jesus, to live my life that it honors and glorifies Your Name only.  Let others be drawn to you by what they see in me.  Help me to live honoring you.  Amen."

For Further Study:

Psalm 89:24

Psalm 8:9
            9:10
           20 :7
            34:3
           52:9
Proverbs 22:1
Ecclesiastes 7:1
Revelation 3:11-3