Does anybody you know give out nicknames? Melissa’s
dad gave his grandkids nicknames. “Scooter” because Rachel would scoot along
rather than crawl, “Hannah Banana” because it rhymed and that’s what Grandma
called her, “Mar mar” because older “Bubba” couldn’t say Marshall, and “Top
Cat” because of Terrynce Caleb’s initials (and Granddad’s brother first called
him that).
Maybe somebody in your family makes up
nicknames. When we get into a relationship with God, he doesn’t give us a
nickname, he gives us a new name.
Your name is your identification and God not only gives you a new identity but a new way of identifying just who and whose you are. You belong to God!
Isaiah 62:2 says “You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord will
name.”
Revelation 2:17 and 3:12 says this: “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the
Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of
the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name
written on it, known only to the one who receives it… 12 The one who is victorious I
will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I
will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the
new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also
write on them my new name.”
I think it is so wonderful God gave so many
people new names, not just Abram and Sarai, but Simon became Peter, Saul became
Paul. Can you believe it but God has a new name for you when you get to heaven.
You have a new identity and it is yours for the taking!!
There is a song by Matthew West which has the
following chorus:
Hello, my name is
child of the one true King
I’ve been saved,
I’ve been changed, I have been set free"Amazing Grace" is the song I sing
Hello, my name is child of the one true King
Whoa oh ah oh ah
oh oh
Whoa oh ah oh ah
oh oh
Whoa oh ah oh ah
oh oh
Whoops, sorry, I got a little carried away after listening to that song about four times as inspiration to this article. Rather than just reading the lyrics,
go listen to the song yourself by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page and rejoice in your new identity in Christ. And remember this:
God loves you just the way you are but He loves you too much to leave you just
the way you are.
Your new identity will be revealed as you believe and become
more like Christ.
Listen to Matthew West's Hello My Name Is...
