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January 12
A New Name
In Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" the famous
question is asked "What is in a name?" To
the star crossed lovers, a name meant nothing
but was a barrier to their forbidden love.
Names are important to God however. They
are symbolic of who a person is. A new
name means that a change has taken place within
a person.
On several occasions God changed a person's name
to mean something new. They were minor
changes but made a big difference in meaning.
Abram became Abraham, Sarai became Sarah, and
Saul became Paul.
In addition to symbolizing a new life the giving
of a name meant that a person belonged to the
name giver. It wasn't a matter of
possession but rather relationship. Adam
named Eve and called her a woman because she was
taken out of a man.
In the same way parents name their children as
it is a duty and privilege of the relationship a
parent has with a child. When Joseph named
Jesus he took legal responsibility for Him even
though he wasn't His physical father. By
the laws of the land, the giving of the name
constituted legal adoption.
When God gives us a new name it is symbolic of
our new nature and character. It is also
symbolic of our adoption into the family of God. |
