What’s In A Name?

As if it’s not obvious already, Christmas is just around the corner. Roads are getting slick, people are shopping in a frenzy, Christmas music has begun, and we are 23 days away from celebrating the most magnificent birth. I have mentioned before that I am in a Bible study and we are going through Anne Graham-Lotz’s book Into the Word. Each month it focuses on a different topic, and as one might guess, this month it is Christmas. One thing that really caught my attention was what does it mean to believe in Jesus’ NAME. That got me thinking about names. Names offer distinction, yet ownership. Names offer familiarity. Having a name almost gives you purpose. Then I started thinking about “knowing” people. We know people by their names – but do we REALLY KNOW them? We may know what their name is and what they are wearing, but what’s on the inside? What is their story?

The name Jesus. To know Jesus’ name to me, means that I BELIEVE in His name. I believe that He IS my Savior. I believe EVERY part of Him – His characteristics. I believe in what He did. I believe in His story.

This Christmas, I really want to focus on WHO Jesus is. We were also talking today about the passage I think in Matthew 12 (I could be wrong), that what comes out of the mouth is an overflow of the heart. What’s in my heart? Is every thought Christ-centered? Is every thought about how is this revering or proclaiming Jesus’ name? Am I reflection of Jesus’ name? Do I bear the name Christian proudly?

God has taught me so much in the recent months. I have done an incredibly amount of reflection and He CONTINUALLY shows me ways that I can improve my Christian walk. I want to truly believe in Jesus’ name this Christmas and all that His name entails – not that He was just born – I want to reflect His characteristics.

I LOVE the Christmas season – and as the cliche goes, Jesus is the reason for the season! I can’t wait to continue to explore what God is showing me through His Word in this subject of names :)…and as a side note…there surely are a ton of names of God!!