Baby names!  Oh, what a process!  The naming of children or pets can be a painful process.  I remember the hours I spent pouring through baby name books, scanning for ideas.  When I’d come across a name that I liked, I’d read its meaning.  If it had a good meaning, I’d share the idea with my husband. 

I remember there was one name that I really liked.  I was quite excited about it.  I asked my husband, “What about this name?”  His face immediately contorted.  “No!  We are not naming our child that name,” he said.  I replied, “But why not!”  I was completely taken aback.  I even shared with him the beautiful meaning of the name, but that didn’t help any at all.  He was completely against the name.  He told me he had some bad experiences with a kid by that name during his childhood.  That name would be tainted for him.  I reluctantly crossed that name off the list.  I’d tell you what the name was, but I honestly don’t remember.  And to be truthful, I nixed some of his name ideas for the exact same reason; past experience.  We eventually did manage to find names that we both agreed upon.  I had never considered the weight of a name before then.

So what is in a name?  A name is more than a title or a way to address someone.  Names tend to bring forth visceral reactions; responses based on deep feelings, not logic.  Even now, I’m sure you can think of names that bring you “warm fuzzies” and others that leave a bitter taste.  It doesn’t matter what the definition of their name means, you’ve experienced their character.

In the Bible, a person’s name was more significant than a means of identification.  These passages can be confusing to us, as we don’t use the same terminology today.  In the Bible, a name was a person’s reputation; their character.  There is much written in the Bible about the Lord’s name.  These are references to God’s character and reputation. 

The gospels record several times when Jesus says that God will give us anything when we ask in His name.  That doesn’t mean we get whatever we want as long as we end our prayer in, “We pray this in Jesus’ name.  Amen.”  It means that we are to ask in the character and reputation of Jesus.

Another widely known example would be from the Lord’s Prayer, “Hallowed be thine name.”  We don’t talk like that today, so what does that really mean?  Two weeks ago, we explored what it means to be holy (An Uncommon People).  Hallowed means to be holy; uncommon.  This portion of the Lord’s Prayer is a statement and a commitment.   It is a statement that God’s name is holy.  It always has been and it always will be.  The commitment is to live life in His character and reputation so that others will recognize God as holy.  How else will God’s name be perceived as holy to those who do not know Him?  Indeed, His name, character, and reputation are to be proclaimed in all the earth.

In both the Old Testament and the New Testament, we are told that God’s people bear His name.  He has given us His character, His reputation.  Listen to what John says in 20:31:

But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.

What does John say we will have in Jesus’ name?  Life.  Some of our minds are jumping to the promise of eternal life.  That is true, but it is also true for the here and now.  We can experience fulfilling life today when we live life in the reputation and character of Jesus Christ.  It doesn’t mean that we’ll live life perfectly, that we won’t make mistakes.  We are to believe and walk in the confidence that Jesus has made us complete in Him.  He has given us His name.

We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.  1 Thessalonians 1:12

Digging into more about God’s name this week:
Numbers 6:22-27
Psalm 86
What are some characteristics of God’s name found in Psalms: 8:1; 48:10; 52:9; 72:19; 75:1; and 99:3?
What do you learn about God’s name from Exodus 9:16, 1 Corinthians 1:10 & 6:11, Ephesians 5:20, Colossians 3:17, and Revelation 2:13?