Genesis 17:3-5. 3Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, 4“Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 5No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.
Genesis 17:15-16. 15And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.”
Do you know why your parents gave you your name? Do you know what your name means? My first name is Brady which is an Irish word that can mean “spirited,” “broad minded,” or “descended from Bradach.” I doubt my parents knew any of this when they named me. I think they just liked the name.
In Genesis 17, God gives both Abraham and Sarah a new name, and trust me, God knows what these names mean. Abram will be renamed Abraham and Sarai will be renamed Sarah. I know that doesn’t sound like a very big change, but whenever God changes a person’s name it is a really big deal. In English our words are usually a mix of ideas from a bunch of other languages. But in Hebrew, the language of the Old Testament, every letter means something so every word tells a story. And don’t forget that when God created everything, how did he do it? That’s right he simply spoke and named it into existence. That’s what God is doing with Abraham and Sarah. He is giving them a whole new life, a new existence.
The name Abram meant “Exalted Father.” Father of high character, but father of one family.
But the name Abraham means “Father of all nations.” This points to Abraham not only being the father of many nations, tribes, and kings, but the spiritual father of all who trust in Jesus by faith (have you ever sung the song, Father Abraham?).
Never forget, God’s word is powerful. God’s word creates. God’s word brings life. And this is about to be true in Abraham and Sarah’s life right now. Abram and Sarai could never have children. But Abraham and Sarah? God says that they will have a baby within one year.
When we trust in Jesus to save us God changes our name too. Have you ever been called names by someone? Maybe a bully? Stupid. Dummy. Ugly. Nerd. Or worse. Satan loves to call us names. He loves to tell us that we are worthless, unloved, guilty, or forgotten by God.
But, just like Abraham and Sarah, God gives us a new name, Jesus’ name. Loved. Accepted. Remembered. Honored. Saint. This is because we are in a covenant with God too, just like Abraham and Sarah. Now we are his, newly created by him, with a new name. A name that gives us the strength to live for God.
We are named Christian!
Yes, I am still Brady, but now I am Brady the Christian. The “little Christ.” That’s what Christian means. We are not THE Christ, only Jesus is THE Christ, but we are “little Christs.” We carry his name wherever we go, showing people the love of Jesus all while remembering that we belong to God. We are his, and he is ours.
You: Are there any bad names that you have given to yourself, or that you think Satan is trying to give to you?
You with Jesus: Jesus has named you “Loved,” “Christian,” “Mine!” Why is it so important to know our new name in Jesus if we are going to live like a Christian?
Prayer: Father, thank you for my new name. No matter what happens to me I know that you have made me to be like Jesus and have given me his name to prove it. Help me to live up to my new name – Christian, “Little Christ.” Amen.
TLICfamily 