WORTHINESS IN A NAME

READING: PSALM 111:1-9

Verse 9: “He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever; holy and awesome is His name.”

His name is certainly, as the verse above proclaims, holy and awesome. Those words begin a description that goes on in infinite greatness from there. That is about the glory of His name, but the Bible clearly demonstrates that names for people are also very significant. In Genesis 17:5 Abram was renamed Abraham when he was designated by God as the father of many nations. Then, in verse 15, his wife’s name was changed from Sarai to Sarah to acknowledge her as a mother of nations. In Genesis 35:10 the Lord established that a nation and a company of nations would proceed from Jacob, and therefore changed his name to Israel. Soon after his conversion, Saul of Tarsus came to be called Paul as recorded in Acts 13:9. Revelation 19:12 describes Jesus at His second coming, as having a name that no one knows except Himself. Special names are also promised for those who overcome. According to Revelation 2:17, they will get a new name written on a white stone. Like the secret name Jesus will have, no one will know these white stone names either, except those who receive them. Psalm 147:4 says God counts the number of the stars and calls them all by name. I believe He does no less for His people. Certainly those who are His are also known to the Father, and are well named. Special names are marks of our worthiness in Christ. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. In what way is your earthly name spiritually significant to you?

2. What comes to mind when you consider the white stone name?