What's In A Name?

Well, I suppose I have taken a hiatus for some time now.  But today, I was drawn back to this place...

I was working on a song we are doing Sunday morning, We Cry Out.

You can listen to it here...

It begins: Father of Life, seated on Your throne of grace, it's only by Your mercy we are saved; Lord You have said if we call upon Your name, we and our families will be saved.

The chorus says: So we cry out Your Name, El Shaddai, God of grace, Lord Most High, Jesus Christ

We rely on Your grace Adonai, crowned in praise; Lord Most High, Jesus Christ

It got me to thinking...What's in a Name? It's not as common anymore, but in ancient days, a name was not something to be taken lightly.  It wasn't about what sounds good, what is popular or what will gain the most attention. In the Bible, a name was a reflection of a significant event, a description of the journey of the person's life, or a revealing of the call on one's life.  Often times, something of such significance would occur that the person would change their name to reflect it.  

For example, Simon, one of the 12 apostles... Simon means "one who has heard." Simon had heard of the promise of a Messiah, but then, he met Him face to face.  He chose to follow Him, and despite his short-comings, Jesus gave him a new name, Peter, or "stone".  Peter would help lay the foundation for the early church that would change the world. 

Abram, which means "high father," became Abraham, "father of many," as God fulfilled His promise to him by giving him his son Isaac, father of Jacob...

Jacob, meaning "following after", as in following after his brother, Esau, became Israel, or "One who struggles with God" after wrestling with the angel.  When asked his name, Jacob was told, "Your name will no longer be Jacob," He said. "It will be Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed." (Gen. 32:28). 

Even my own birth name had meaning, Stacey Ladonna, "lady of the resurrection", or from the name Anastasia, "one who has been resurrected." This holds meaning to me because of the new life I received in Christ many years ago, but also for the opportunity he provides each day for me to be renewed in Him if I will but surrender.

Names hold much power. In history, one needed only to speak the name of an evil ruler and people would tremble. A signet ring bearing the initial of the king would seal any edict without question. Even in modern history, the name of one person (Hitler) could mean the rise to power or death in a concentration camp or firing squad or worse. And all because of a name.

The Bible tells us that people were baptized in the Name of Jesus, healed by the Name of Jesus, demons were driven out in the Name of Jesus, the apostles preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus, spoke boldly in the Name of Jesus, suffered disgrace for the Name of Jesus... Even in the Old Testament, the Name of God was so revered that they dare not speak His name in fear of taking it in vain. Nations feared the Name of the Lord. And one day, "at the Name of Jesus every knee will bow - of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth - and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil. 2:10-11)

Which leads back to the song...There is so much power in the Name(s) of God. El Shaddai (All-Sufficient One), God of Grace, Lord Most High, Jesus Christ, Adonai (Lord/Master)...

And yet, in all that Power, He chooses to love us, redeem us, sustain us. He hears our cries, our prayers, our doubts and fears. He promises us "Everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved." (Joel 2:32) 

He loves us in spite of our failures, weaknesses, sin...if only we choose to follow Him. If only we choose to share the power of His Name with those who don't know Him. Until the day He takes us all away...