January 8, 2014
A good name… what does that mean? Good means: “morally excellent; virtuous; righteous; pious.” So how can one have a good name? It is written through the pages of the Bible how important a good name is. "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold" (Proverbs 22:1) "A good name is better than precious ointment..." (Ecclesiastes 7:1a) "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" (Luke 2:52). I believe that in keeping with what you are taught, and hold most valuable you are making a name for yourself. A good name holds more value and respect than material things.
Everyone is given a name at birth. Your name is associated with your family, and everywhere you go, you represent your family. I am sure you have heard as I have a parent say to their child: “Make me proud”, “remember who you are” or “know where you came from”, that is a parent telling you that you represent the family name, and do so with dignity. As my boys get older, I find myself thinking about this more and more. They represent me and all I have invested into them. I pray they make me proud, but truly, that they honor me, and the morals and values I have invested by teaching and example. There are times that they fail, and disappoint me, and prompts me to think about my own representation. How is my name? Am I representing in a way that honors? “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16). I fail.
As a Christian, everywhere I go, I represent the One who calls me by name. I am a chosen child of God. He loves me, and has invested His entire life (literally) into me. As I think about my children representing me and not wanting them to shame me, I have to think about how I am representing my Father. I have to be intentional about every moment of every day. I have to follow what He instructs me in His word, and dwell on good things. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4: 8-9). That is the only way I can truly obtain a good name. While the name is given to me, I have to work to keep it good. The rewards are eternal! “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1: 3-9).
How’s your name?
A good name… what does that mean? Good means: “morally excellent; virtuous; righteous; pious.” So how can one have a good name? It is written through the pages of the Bible how important a good name is. "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold" (Proverbs 22:1) "A good name is better than precious ointment..." (Ecclesiastes 7:1a) "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" (Luke 2:52). I believe that in keeping with what you are taught, and hold most valuable you are making a name for yourself. A good name holds more value and respect than material things.
Everyone is given a name at birth. Your name is associated with your family, and everywhere you go, you represent your family. I am sure you have heard as I have a parent say to their child: “Make me proud”, “remember who you are” or “know where you came from”, that is a parent telling you that you represent the family name, and do so with dignity. As my boys get older, I find myself thinking about this more and more. They represent me and all I have invested into them. I pray they make me proud, but truly, that they honor me, and the morals and values I have invested by teaching and example. There are times that they fail, and disappoint me, and prompts me to think about my own representation. How is my name? Am I representing in a way that honors? “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16). I fail.
As a Christian, everywhere I go, I represent the One who calls me by name. I am a chosen child of God. He loves me, and has invested His entire life (literally) into me. As I think about my children representing me and not wanting them to shame me, I have to think about how I am representing my Father. I have to be intentional about every moment of every day. I have to follow what He instructs me in His word, and dwell on good things. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4: 8-9). That is the only way I can truly obtain a good name. While the name is given to me, I have to work to keep it good. The rewards are eternal! “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1: 3-9).
How’s your name?
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