God Speaking

“You will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow.”

(Isaiah 62: 2)

I have had several new names during my lifetime. When I got married, I took on the surname of my husband and at the same time I acquired the name of Wife. Later I was called Mother and quite a but later I had yet again a new name of Grandmother. This last year I had yet another name Great Grandmother, when my eldest granddaughter delivered a darling little great grandson, but when I discovered who Jesus really was and became a follower of his I received the most beautiful name ever, Child of God. 

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God and that is what we are.” (1 John 3: 1)

When we decide to follow Jesus and live by his word many areas change as well. God changed the names of people who trusted him. I love the story of Gideon, who lived in the time of the Judges, and the children of Israel were being attacked on all sides by their enemies. God chooses to visit a man, called Gideon, who was so afraid of the approaching army. He was hiding and doing his threshing in a wine press. God sends an angel to speak to him. Gideon was amazed when the angel called him Mighty Warrior. Gideon was probably more like a coward than a mighty warrior, but as the story progresses by trusting in God, he became just that and with God’s help defeats the enemy. (Judges 6) 

Another startling name change comes in the New Testament. Peter was a simple fisherman who Jesus called to follow him. He was brash and outspoken. When Jesus was crucified, he denied his association to Jesus three times and yet Jesus saw beyond all that. He bestowed upon Peter the solid name of Rock. 

“Jesus replied, “Blessed are you Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but my Father in heaven and I tell you that you are Peter and, on this rock, I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16: 17)

As Jesus had spoken, all this became true, and Peter became the leader of the early church. On the day of Pentecost, Peter delivered a mighty sermon, where three thousand people became Christ’s followers. 

“Those who accepted his message were baptized and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” (Acts 2: 41)

In the book pf Ephesians Paul reminds us that not only do we have a new name we have a new self. 

“To be made new in the attitude of your minds, and to put on a new self created by God in righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4: 23 – 24)

The most beautiful promise of all is when we will finally see Jesus, his name will be on our forehead, 

“They will see his face and his name will be on their forehead.” (Revelation 22:  4)