What’s Your Name?
What is your name? That’s a question we’ve all answered hundreds of times, from our school years, into adulthood, whether meeting someone or filling out countless forms. Your name identifies you and it’s one of the ways we communicate with each other. Your parents picked out a name they liked; they may have even picked out one that had significance or meaning. Even if there is someone else in the world with the same name as yours, there is no one like you.
When Joseph learned that Mary was pregnant, the angel told him that he should name the boy Jesus, because He would save His people from their sins. The name Jesus literally means "Yahweh saves" or "Savior." It is derived from the Hebrew name Yeshua (Joshua), which comes from a verb meaning to save, deliver, or rescue. Philippians 2:9 says, “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord...” Think about that for a minute…just the sound of His name would cause everyone to fall to their knees and acknowledge that He IS the Lord, King above all kings. THAT’S a powerful name!
In the beginning, God gave Adam dominion to name all of the animals. Since then, people have taken it upon themselves to name things; like towns and streets during early settlement, foods, cars, etc. Everything around us has a name and we don’t give it a second thought to its origin. Scientist discover abnormalities in the human body and they name the diseases. We toss around the word “diabetes” or “cancer” without a second thought, but we shouldn’t…because there is a name above every other name, and His name is Jesus. HIS name is above the name of cancer! HIS name is above the name of depression! HIS name is above the name of poverty! HIS name means to save, deliver and rescue…HE is the answer to ALL our problems.
In Matthew 14:30-31 Peter gets out of the boat to walk to Jesus on the water, but when he takes his eyes off Jesus, he begins to drown. He calls out “Lord, save me!” and the bible says immediately Jesus reached out and caught him. Peter didn’t call out to the other disciples to throw him a life preserver, he called out the name of Jesus, to save him, to rescue him, which the Lord did without hesitation.
You don’t need to pray a long, eloquent prayer to get His attention. “Lord, save me!” Before you let the names of ailments, addictions, or struggles cross your lips, speak the name above all other names…speak the name of Jesus!