Tag Archives: Name

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day Numbers 13

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These are the names of the men Moses sent to scout out the land. Moses gave Hoshea (Salvation) son of Nun a new name—Joshua (God-Saves). Numbers 13:16 (MSG)

Oneo of the over-arching themes I’ve discovered in my journey through God’s Message is that God is a God of transformation. We grow and we change. I am not exactly the same person I was 30 years ago, or 20 years ago, or 10 years ago, or even last year. I am not perfect, but with life experience and God’s never ending work in my soul, I am growing in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Another over-arching theme in God’s Message that points to this work of transformation is the giving of new names. Moses gave Hoshea a new name, Joshua. God gave Abram and new name, Abraham. Jacob was given the new name Israel. Jesus gave Simon a new name, Peter. Saul was given a new name Paul.

In God’s Message, the giving of a new name always pointed to a life transformation. You were this, now you are this.

Today, I’m asking myself many questions:

How am I growing?
How am I different today than this time last year?
Is God doing anything in my heart and life? If so, what?
How has my life transformed over time?
If God were to give me a new name, what would I want it to be?

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day 1 Chronicles 6

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Adoption papers. The sons of Levi were…. 1 Chronicles 1:1 (MSG)

Reading through what seems like endless genealogical records in the beginning of Chronicles, I begin to appreciate how important lineage was to Israel in the Old Testament. The family you were born into determined all sorts of things from status, to where you lived, to what you did for a living and your responsibilities in temple worship.

I don't think I fully appreciate what it's like to have your life and social status completely determined by the family into which you happened to be born. Being born in a country and a time in which you're raised believing you can do anything and succeed at anything you choose to do if you put your heart and mind to it, it's hard to fathom being constrained by my family name.

One of the awesome things that Jesus did through his life, death and resurrection was to shatter this legalistic system in which your family was of utmost importance. Ephesians 1:5 says "In love [God]predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will." Through Jesus, being born into the right family with the right genes and the right name becomes a moot point. When we place our faith in Jesus, we're adopted into the family that really matters.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and barbaradoduk