Name Change?

“What’s more, I am changing your name.”  [Genesis 17:5]

What’s your name?  Do you have a nickname?  Ever changed your name?  Unless you are in the witness protection program, probably not.  Me either!

Our name is important to us.  It identifies us.  We use it daily.  Most everyone likes to hear their name spoken.  There have been occasions when I have been misidentified because of my name—most recently in a doctor’s office.  As I waited in the lobby for my name to be called to go back and see the doctor, the door opened and the person said, “Ms. Kendall?”   Hmmm…that didn’t go over so well!

Occasionally, I have had a few nicknames given to me by various people:  “Clod” (it’s a long story) by my high school soccer coach and “The Third” by a group of friends who thought my full name sounded like royalty and that “The Third” would enhance its sound even more.  But I have always preferred my full first name, Kendall.

In the above Scripture, God is having a conversation with “Abram”.  But now, God informs him that his name is changing from Abram, meaning“exalted father,” to Abraham, meaning “father of many.”

What about you?  Ever been called a name or term that did not define who you really were?  Many of us have had names or terms spoken to us or over us by friends, relatives, parents, siblings, boyfriends/girlfriends, or even our spouses.  Perhaps we have even called ourselves some names, too.  Unfortunately,  all too often, those names were negative, painful, and hurtful!  Yet, somehow, they stuck with us and we have been living with them for a long time.

Imagine God, the God of the universe, the God who created you, changing your name!   HE wants to rename your earthly identity to reflect your eternal destiny if you will let Him!  What if He changed your name from…

Reckless to Righteous

Fickle to Faithful

Hopeless to Hope-full

Wretched to Redeemed

Despaired to Delivered

Sinner to Saint

Ready for a name change?