My Name is David
What's in a name anyway? A LOT! When my parents named me I don't believe they had some inkling of King David and that my name would be the same as a man after God's own heart. But every time I hear the name David mentioned when referring to King David it causes me to think "Am I also a man who wants to know the heart of God?" It also reminds me to stay away from any woman named Bathsheba. Just sayin! Our names are more important than we may realize. When I hear a certain name I think about the person I know that also has that name and it brings memories to mind of that person. Names are definitely "markers" for us and God is so good to give us identity in a new and fresh way. Whether we realize it or not, these markers or memories were developed by the impact the person with that name had on us. That marker was set into our memory and our memories are important.
One marker for me was when I first heard the gospel from a friend of mine at age 11. His name was Bruce and he probably didn't even realize at the time what truth he was letting out of the bag at that moment. But later on in a church service another name became important, and that name is Jim Hylton. Our pastor at that time shared how to be born again in a message he preached and God called my name and I responded. Jim Hylton passed away a few months ago, but his name is fresh on my mind when I think back to the day I received Jesus.
Paul wrote about the most important name, Jesus, in this way in Philippians 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, There is pure power in the name of Jesus. When Jesus sent out the seventy-two disciples they returned and said this in Luke 10:17 When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!” Those sent out disciples were "sent out" by Jesus to proclaim the name of Jesus, and Jesus came through for them and all who heard the message. Our salvation is attached to the precious name of Jesus and in Romans 10:13 Paul writes For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
I was playing basketball one time when I was much younger and a guy on the other team missed a shot and yelled out "Jesus!" I said to him, "Don't blame Jesus. You missed the shot. Jesus died for your sins." Then he looked at me in a very curious manner and his countenance changed from anger to peace and He said "Yeah. I shouldn't have said His name in that way." The name of Jesus still has power today, but we need to say that name as we are called to by God's Word. When we submit to God and the name of Jesus is exalted in our life the power of God becomes more of a reality to us. James writes in chapter 4 and verse 7 Submit therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
What will be said of your name? Will it be that you were one who submitted to God and He was alive in your walk? We don't follow a calling given by a holy God to get people to brag about us because, in reality, it is all about God. But we must lift up the name of Jesus and hopefully, when people think about your name they will say "I knew this person who seemed to always want to live for Jesus." In that marker maybe that person will be compelled to also follow God and keep on proclaiming salvation in no other name but JESUS!
My name is David and I am nothing, except who I am to the one who saved me. His Name is Jesus. I will continue lifting up that name that is above all other names. Praise the Lord!
The Pilgrimage Continues.
David Warren