As an only child, Jon had an active imagination and frequently named his toys. He had several friends whom he knew and called by their names. Yet, because he had not previously been introduced to this little girl, he felt a need to name her himself.
Since a little child did this, it seems extremely funny. But yet many of us do it regularly when we judge others by their characteristics or actions. Just as a parent has naming rights over their own child, our Heavenly Father has naming rights over His own sons and daughters.
The Lord has bestowed several names upon. Upon entering His
family through faith in the life giving Jesus Christ, God calls us His redeemed
ones. “But
now [in spite of past judgments for Israel's sins], thus says the Lord, He Who
created you, O Jacob, and He Who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have
redeemed you [ransomed you by paying a price instead of leaving you captives];
I have called you by your name; you are Mine.” (Isaiah 43:1 AMP)
He has also called us His own. Jesus, referring to us with the analogy of a
loving shepherd stated, “The
watchman opens the door for this man, and the sheep listen to his voice and heed it; and he calls his own
sheep by name and brings (leads) them out.” (John 10:3 AMP) We are not only His own, but He knows each of us by name.
Through
the sacrifice of Jesus, we are now called righteous. “For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who
knew no sin, so that in and
through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of]
the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in
right relationship with Him, by His goodness].” (2 Corinthians 5:21 AMP) Our actions do not change who we are to the
Father. Because of our relationship with His Son, God calls us righteous ones.
The Lord has chosen us and calls us beloved
ones. “[O] brethren beloved by
God, we recognize and know that
He has selected (chosen) you.” (1
Thessalonians 1:4 AMP) He lavishes His love on us and desires that we
demonstrate that same love toward others. “Clothe yourselves therefore, as God's own chosen ones (His own picked
representatives), [who are] purified and
holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by]
tenderhearted pity and mercy,
kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and] patience [which
is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes,
with good temper].” (Colossians
3:12 AMP) As beloved ones we can also love.
Among the other names God has given us, He expresses
His pleasure toward us by calling us His masterpiece. “For
we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus,
[born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned
beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we
should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready
for us to live].” (Ephesians 2:10 AMP) This title implies beauty,
uniqueness and His pleasure.
As our Father, God is the only one with parental
rights to name His children. Others may have ideas of what we should be called.
Yet they do not possess the right to put any name or label on us. We do not
belong to others like the toys that belonged to my son. We must seek out the
true names (many more of which have not been included here) that have been given
to us by God. And we must view and call others by these same names. Seek out the names that God has specially chosen for you and wear them proudly. Do not pay attention to what an immature person would call you. You have been chosen and named by God and He proudly carries you in His heart and hand. “Behold, I have indelibly imprinted (tattooed a picture of) you on the palm of each of My hands; [O Zion] your walls are continually before Me.” (Isaiah 49:16 AMP)
No comments:
Post a Comment