The last few days some of our kids have been doing some detective work into our family-tree. They’ve followed up on both sides of the family some stories we have grown up with and whether their is an validity to them. There is accounts of convicts, runaway slaves, people hung as horse thief’s, land grants as restitution, babies being born without fathers knowing, war torn love stories and a whole array of things that could make a best selling book if anyone bothered to write it.
As a result of this detective work and the subsequent ongoing discussions, DNA testing kits have been ordered, war records, birth and death certificates and all sorts of historical documents are being searched for and investigated. It’s keeping our kids busy during this isolation period as to the truth behind their family history.
However in their search there is one underlying truth and piece of information to remember and that is; whether we do or don’t know our earthly family history and ancestors we can know our heavenly family and who we belong to.
When we ask Jesus to be a part of our life we get a new name along with a new nature, much like I took my husband’s name when I got married. (2 Cor 5:17) I left single life behind and identified as a wife and also part of a different family. Likewise we receive God’s name and are made a member of His family, with all the rights and privileges that come with being one of His children. We are made co-heirs with Jesus.
“For this reason I kneel before the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.” (Ephesians 3:14)
“And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory.” (Romans 8:17)
So that we can better understand Him, God reveals and calls Himself by different names. These names are important and not only tell us who He is and about His character but also about who we are.
The choice we all have is whether we will accept and choose to embrace our new name or whether we keep our old name and identity
Here is just a few of the names and attributes we now carry….
He is called Jehovah (meaning God) Jireh – The Lord will provide which means we are provided for. (Genesis 22:13-14) “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
Jehovah Nissi – The Lord is my banner/Victory (Exodus 17:15) Meaning we who carry and have been given His name are no longer victims but victors. “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”. (1 Cor 15:57)
Jehovah Rapha – The Lord that heals (Exodus 15:26) We carry the name of one who is healed and whole (1 Peter 2:24)
Jehovah Shalom – The Lord is Peace (Judges 6:24) Our name is peaceful “For He (Jesus) is our peace”. (Ephesians 2:14)
Jehovah Tsidkenu – The Lord our righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6) We are the righteousness of God -(made right before him) “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
What’s in a name you may ask? Plenty if we identify with the owner of that name and accept it as our own. The question is. “have we accepted God’s name and taken it fully as our own, or are we still identifying with our old name and the nature that goes with it?”
“God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” (Ephesians 1:5 NLT)
“But you belong to God.” (1 John 4:4 NLT)
Prayer: Lord I’m choosing to take your name as my own and all that name entails. Please help me to walk fully in who I am and the identity and inheritance that is mine today. In Jesus name Amen.
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