GOODNEWSLETTER
Number 394 November 9, 2011
DOES JESUS KNOW YOUR NAME?
"...to him that overcometh will I ... give him a white stone, and NEW NAME written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it," Rev. 2:17.
Without question, the Lord of Heaven considers names extremely important. God often changes names of those who walk a straight and spiritual life; like that of Abraham, known as God's friend (2 Chron. 20:7).
Further, as our Headline verse reveals, God changed the name of His servant to indicate the new position. "Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but the name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee," Genesis 17:5.
Clearly, a new name is require to reflect the new nature within the heart of those who believe in the Lord. In the Old Testament, we read of God speaking to only a few by name; and, it was - for the most part - those within Israel.
For the nations surrounding Israel, God LUMPED them into "The Phillistines" and "The Moabites, et al." And, until the New Covenant was available to all of faith, the Bible referred to non-Jews as "Gentiles."
The subject of name-change has a most precious verse in Matthew 1:21. Here, the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and stated, "...thou shalt call his name JESUS: for He shall saved His people from their sins." Translated, JESUS is Joshua and means, "Jehovah is salvation." Yes! Names are important to God.
How blessed is the Lord to all of us? God is incarnated and takes our place on the cross to save us from sin. He arose for our justification and sits now at God's right hand making intercession for our the prayers we offer (See Hebrews 7:25).
Indeed, every church member and, even the saved by the skin of their teeth, ought to "...consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession," Heb. 3:1.
And so it goes. Our relationship with Jesus means that we are to have a name change; a new name as Revelation 2:17 records. We see this change begin in the Book of Acts, Chapter 11. "...that a whole year they (Apostles) assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch."
The next time we are reading our Bible through in one year and come upon all those lineages that we think of as unnecessary and hard to pronounce correctly, let's be personal about it. Let's look carefully to see if we are there, as well as, Elizur the son of Shedeur, the son of Rueben.
Can you imagine YOUR NAME inserted in the blessing and promises of God? Amen! We are very egotistical and self centered. But, when JAMES appears in the Word, I am humbled knowing God has given Himself just for me. He loves you and will give you a new name...that is, if you overcome the world and faithfully serve Him.