Jan 06 – New Name!

“The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, And all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, Which the mouth of the Lord will name” (Isaiah 62:2)

The Lord Himself has given you a new name. When you are called by that name, you shall be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of God (Isaiah 62:2-3). Many people, even after embracing Christianity, continue with their previous names after other gods or deities. Some have one part as Christian name and the other part named after other god, based on their earlier faith. These are not really acceptable. When you come into the faith in Christ, you should choose one of the blessed names from the Scripture.

Some people even argue, that when you preach the Gospel, while continuing with a name, given based on other gods, it will help attract gentiles or more souls toward Christ. This argument is fallacious. The Scripture says: “And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? (2 Corinthians 6:15). Prophet Elijah declared clearly on Mount Carmel, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” We should therefore not compromise on our stand.

When we come into the family of God, He wants to renew everything. The Lord says: “I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name” (Revelation 3:12)

There are many believers, who are not able to lead a triumphant life, merely because they have not changed their names, which they had before they came into the Faith. The names, given after other gods, allows the curses of the old state to continue in their lives. And you should never allow that. When you commit yourselves to Baptism, you are casting away all your old state of affairs and entering into the family of God. Since that is the case, you should choose for yourselves one of the blessed names from the Scripture.

Children of God, when you become a new creation, you may also have to go through trials and tribulations at times. But when you bear all of that with gladness in your heart, for the glory of His Name, you will realize that those sufferings are not any way comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us in future. The Lord has given you a new name, and it is so great to be called by that name.

Verse for further meditation: “Behold, I will make you into a new threshing sledge with sharp teeth; You shall thresh the mountains and beat them small, And make the hills like chaff” (Isaiah 41:15).