What's in a name?

At present, in Liberty Community Church, we are seeking to learn from the Old Testament book of Daniel. It's not the easiest book in the Bible to understand, but is well worth the effort! One of the things that has struck me is something that I've known for years, but that has never before impacted me in the way that it now has.

Daniel had three friends who are also named in the book - they were Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. Of course, most folk only know these young men by the names Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So, what's the difference? Well, the first set of names are their Hebrew names and they mean, respectively, YHWH has been gracious; salvation is of God; and YHWH has helped. These are wonderful truths about Almighty God, and those young men must have borne their names with pride. However, one of the results of their captivity in Baylon was that they were given pagan names, and it is by those names that they tend to be remembered.

I found that to be a little bit sad. It was an attempt to remove their Jewish identity, and make them integrate with Babylonian society, culture, and religion. It's the sort of thing that can happen within the persecuted church. Those who come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus out of a totally non-Christian background are often pressured into returning to their original culture, and religion, and need the prayerful support of all of God's people.

However, there is another name that is mentioned in God's Word. It is the "... new name written on the stone which no one knows except him who receives it." (Rev 2:17, RSV). This is a personal name reserved only for those who are disciples of Jesus. It's a special name, because it is given by the Lord. And even that is not all! Towards the end of the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, given to John, we learn of the new Jerusalem that "... the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall worship Him; they shall see His face, and His Name shall be on their foreheads." (Rev 22:3-4, RSV)

What a wonderful prospect for the true child of God. I trust that you will be in that number, on that Day.

PS Find out more about the persecuted church by using the links for Release International, and Open Doors, that are at the very bottom of the blog.