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December 7

What Is In A Name? 

Text: Isaiah 9:6

If you think about it, a name is super important. Most everything in life is transitory. Your age changes each year. Your appearance morphs, no matter how much eye cream, botox or plastic surgery you pay for. Children move out. Jobs change. Houses get upgraded. But your name—that stays with you, even beyond the printing of your death certificate. 

Oh, and another thing, the names of this generation are ridiculous. There, I said it. Not only is it hard to tell from a name if its owner is a male or female, but the spelling! I never knew the letter Y could be swapped out with the letter I. This crazy generation. 

Back in biblical times, a name meant something. Adam means man. Peter was called a rock. Naomi means pleasantness, but because of misfortune she changed her name to Mara, which means bitter. Your name seemed to reveal the purpose and direction of your life. The mysterious seed we are learning about was given a name. Actually, he had many names according to the prophet Isaiah. 

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.(Isaiah 9:6)

Those are some impressive names. Counselor, God, Father, Prince. This chosen One has quite a reputation to live up to. It is no wonder there were such high expectations attached to His arrival. But the reality is this: names don’t mean as much these days. They are just names. Yet the Bible says we are given a new name, a new identity, a new purpose. 

Are you living according to your new name? I hope so.