What's In a name?
Names have always been a powerful expression of individualism and authority.  You may remember in the movie “Roots” Alex Haley’s character Kunta Kinte endured merciless beatings in a courageous and honorable effort to reject a name which would attempt to erase who he really was, a name which disconnected him from his family. 

Kunta Kinte understood the importance of his name.  Today, names still reflect a determined individualism expressed in the naming of our children and personal nicknames.  For some, however, the power in a name is lost by a lawless self-destructive behavior.  People, young, and old, we must recall that the power of a name is not just in the way it sounds or in its unique spelling, but the respect that the name will command through the life of the person.  How the person has loved, forgiven, and celebrated life with others.  Thus, the greater investment in a life is the demonstration of godly character.

“If I can help somebody as I travel along, if I can cheer somebody with a word or song, then my living will not be in vain.”

What is in a name?  It depends on what’s in the person who owns it.  There is One who lived a sinless life, loved unconditionally, and gave His life for those who raised their hands against Him.  His name is Jesus.  The only name which will command universal honor.  “At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow… and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!”  Philippians 2:9-11

Light for Living:  Call upon My name and I will show you great and mighty things which you do not know.  Jeremiah 33:3

Power Quote:  It’s not the name that makes the person, but the person who makes the name.     

Rev Alice Richardson