Who, me, really? What’s in a name.

Do you ever wonder what people will think of you when you’re old? If you’re already old and you know what people think of you perhaps you wish you could go back and make a few changes in your life.

There are a few times in the Bible when God gives certain people a glimpse of their future in the way He greets them.

In Judges 6 we find Gideon hiding out from the Midianites like all Israelites were in the habit of doing. He had successfully grown some wheat and was in the process of threshing it. The reality of the situation hits home when we discover he’s preparing his wheat for eating in a winepress.

Its not that he was confused about how to use a winepress. No, he was using the press because the Midianites wouldn’t think to look there since it wasn’t grape harvesting time. This scaredy cat was doing what he had to do to survive.

In walks the LORD on this scene. His greeting to Gideon, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.

Gideon probably looked around to see who this angel was talking to. It still took quite a bit of convincing but Gideon did finally rise to the challenge of being used by God to rid Israel of the Midianites.

Fast forward a few centuries to the out-of-the-way town of Nazareth. The angel Gabriel has to give a supreme message to a virgin.

Mary was probably alone when he showed up. The shock of this tall man from out of nowhere was quickly confounded when he says, “greetings highly favored one.”

Fortunately Luke kept in the part about Mary being troubled and confused. Who wouldn’t be? A nobody peasant girl from nowhere being used as the mother of the Messiah. Who’d a thunk?

Fast forward another three decades to this Messiah’s establishing His band of close followers. Andrew and John had been following John the baptizer until he pointed them to the Lamb of God. Andrew finds his brother, Simon, and brings him to see his new rabbi.

The first thing Jesus does when He sees Simon approaching is give him a new name: Peter, aka, The Rock.

We aren’t told whether the guys who knew Simon laughed or their mouths dropped open. The Rock took a few years, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, to grow into his new name but he did fulfill that moniker.

So what name do you suppose Jesus would give you today?

What name do you hope He’d give you?

Maybe something along the lines of: encourager, evangelist, helper? How about “Friend of God?”

If you’ve accepted Jesus’ offer of salvation you are a child of God, a joint-heir with Jesus. That makes you a princess or prince.

So feel free to refer to yourself as Princess Lucy, or Prince Ian. Fill your name in the appropriate space.

Six years ago the last thing I thought I’d be calling myself is an author. Now I believe it’s inevitable.

This gift from God has become my passion. It’s my mission to get the word out about Jesus Christ with words. Anybody who knew this quiet, shy guy would likely laugh at the thought. I know I still do from time to time.

When Paul talks about his thorn in the flesh he says God told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made prefect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

So don’t be surprised when God taps you for a position that’ll stretch you quite a bit. If your goal is to bring glory to Him He’ll tap you for something you’re weak at so He can be shown working through you.

Let’s do our best to bring as much glory to God as humanly possible.

No, let’s go beyond “humanly” possible to be used as divinely as possible.

Keep smiling.   Wade

By wadewebster

I'm a truck driver turned writer. My writing drives people to Jesus. I love sunsets/sunrises, dark chocolate, coffee, cats and dogs (as long as their owners pick up after them) and solitude. My relationship with God through Jesus Christ is most important to me, not a religion. This writing gig is all God's idea. I only wish to bring more attention to Jesus with it.

4 comments

  1. Good mornin’, Wade. And thanks for this post. It is indeed amazing what God will do with us when we’re willing. “Nothing is impossible…with God.”

    DiAne

  2. Hello. I am a married American-Peruvian fatehr of 2 living and working in Chorrillos. I am looking for a new church. My wife and children aren’t fluent English speakers so I would like to know if you are associated with Spanish speaking church where I can visit with my family. By the way, I was an English teacher at ICPNA for many years and now I have my own Christian elementary school in Chorrillos.

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