Daily Devotional, August 7, 2023
What names reveal
“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold.”
Proverbs 22:1
Naming kids is such an exciting yet challenging task given to every parent. As school girls, I remember me and my friends talking about what we want to name our kids.
When I became a parent myself, I also considered names of bible characters as names for my children. After all, this book is the best inspiration for finding good and Godly names. But as I grew in faith, and grew in the knowledge of the Lord I figured that more than the characters, what the bible says about names should inspire us on how to name our children and how to best raise them.
In the bible, the Lord has changed the names of some of its most memorable characters to mark a change in their way of life (Genesis 32:28). Like from being Abram, we now know the Father of All Nations as Abraham. From being a cheat, Jacob’s name has been changed to Israel. From Simon or Cephas, the Lord changed his foremost disciple’s name to Peter. Even St. Paul the Apostle was once known as Saul — back when he was still a religious terrorist.
New beginnings — that is what Jesus offers us when we surrender to Him. In St. Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians, he said “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).”
We do not need to change our names when we get to that cathartic moment. What we just need to do is to make sure that we have been forever changed by the Lord, and that He will constantly be present in our lives as we abide in Him.
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to read 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 to dig deeper on today’s topic.
Reflection Question: What is the meaning of your name? How did you choose your children’s names. Has there been a life changing moment with God and realisation in your life that has prompted you to become a new person?
Conversation with the Lord: Almighty God, I praise and thank you for the wonderful name you allowed my parents to bestow upon me. May this name that I hold reflect your love to all, as I strive to live a life that glorifies your own. Amen.