Names

Revelation 2:17

“Let everyone who can hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches: Everyone who is victorious shall eat of the hidden manna, the secret nourishment from heaven; and I will give to each a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one else knows except the one receiving it.

One of the dearest people in my life, AB [my name for her - short for Aunty Beattie], had the peculiar habit of renaming anyone she met. She would look at that person, size them up and give them a new name!

One instance that sticks in my mind was that Caroline was renamed as Phoebe (pronounced "Fibi").

Of course AB didn't know, but she did a great job, as this name means "bright" in the Greek origin! If you are familiar with Caroline, you will know she's always a ray of sunshine.

When I fostered a Dogue de Bordeaux, I didn't like her name Eeka, so I changed it to Tikka - much nicer and fitted her colour!

Jesus has a special name that fits you exactly. You may not like your earthly name, but you'll love your new one.

Names are so important to us. You can be given a bad name by someone spreading criticism, or a good name by a friend singing your praises.

Jesus renamed His disciples [we're only told of a few, but I'm sure that he had tailor made names for them all]:

Mark 3:16 These are the names of the twelve he chose: Simon (he renamed him “Peter”), James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus called them “Sons of Thunder”)

We often have pet names for those we love [my lovely nephew Daniel is "Danny-boy" to me].

God has a special new name waiting for each one of us who have trusted in Jesus.

Our names are recorded in the Lamb's Book of Life when we make the decision to trust in Jesus.

One day the Lord's books will be opened.

Perhaps you, like me, get many emails asking us to sign a petition - we have to enter our name and click to confirm. Then our name is recorded as supporting that cause. If we leave it too long, the petition is closed and you can no longer record your name.

Jesus has sent out his "email" invitation, asking you to "click and confirm" that you are trusting Him to save you. Revelation 3:20

Make sure that your name is recorded in Book of Life!

Revelation 20:12-15 12 I saw the dead, great and small, standing before God; and The Books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to the things written in The Books, each according to the deeds he had done. 13 The oceans surrendered the bodies buried in them; and the earth and the underworld gave up the dead in them. Each was judged according to his deeds. 14 And Death and Hell were thrown into the Lake of Fire. This is the Second Death—the Lake of Fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found recorded in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the Lake of Fire.

Hear this inspirational song - "He knows my name" https://youtu.be/_K-FsbLc4no

Be inspired that the King of Kings knows you and calls you by name...

How can this be? So many billions of people to know... It's too much for us to comprehend. Our God is so great ... His knowledge is over and above us. He even knows the name of each star:

Psalm 147:4

He counts the stars

and calls them all by name.