Madeleine L’Engle once wrote that “to be named is to be loved”1 – which causes me to pause. And ponder. I think of taking on Larry’s name on our wedding day, a sign of enduring love. I remember all the love that went into naming each of our babies. I recall how loved I feel each time one of my adult sons calls me “Mama.”
The opposite can be true, though. For anyone who has ever been ‘named’ Stupid or Ugly, Loser or Lazy, Monster or Quitter…names can hold anything but love. I recently watched a Hallmark movie (it is Christmas season, after all) where the main character carried the sting and weight of having been called “Miss Mess” during her growing-up years. As an adult, the effects of such a nickname caused her to doubt her ability to do life without wreaking havoc. And that resulted in her making each decision from the fear of failure, creating chaos in every area of her life.
Names matter.
They especially matter to our Father. As His daughters, we’ve not only been made into new creations, we’ve been given new identities, new names.2 Why? Because it’s our Father’s deepest desire that we’d allow the names He bestows upon us to do their redeeming work – that of removing the untruths of the misnomers we’ve believed while restoring us into the lives He has for us.
It’s All in the Name
From beginning to end of Scripture, we observe God identifying his creations with names. Light. Eve. King. Saint. And the theme of ‘naming’ weaves itself from Genesis through Revelation. Let’s trace a few:
God made a covenant with a man from Ur, Abram, whose name meant ‘exalted father’. Despite the fact that Abram and his wife, Sarai, couldn’t have children of their own, God promised Abram that he’d be the “father of many nations” (Genesis 17:3). As a sign of this covenant, God changed Abram’s name by adding a letter to his name – the Hebrew letter, ‘he’, which is the primary letter of God’s own name, YHWH. Abraham lived up to his new name, becoming ‘a father of many,’ for he is considered the patriarch of every Jew, Muslim, and Christian.
God named this man Abraham as a symbol of the promise God made to him, as a sign of God’s hand on his future. Everytime Abraham heard his name spoken, his faith in God’s promises strengthened.
God also changed Abraham’s grandson’s name. The second born son/twin, Jacob was given his name because he ‘followed’ his brother Esau at birth. His name also meant ‘supplanter’ – “one who grabs at the heel,” a Hebrew idiom for deceptive behavior. Instead of trusting God, Jacob deceived many in his attempt to get the blessing he desired – something God had promised him before his birth (Genesis 25:23).3 After a night of wrestling with God, Jacob became Israel because he “struggled with God and with humans and overcame” (32:28).
God gave Jacob a new name to indicate a change in their relationship. The one who used to scheme was forever marked by God as His chosen leader and namesake for His nation.
Then there’s Hadassah, who was given the new name, Esther, which meant ‘hidden’ and ‘star’. By changing her name God both protected his Jewish daughter in the Persian palace, hiding her in plain sight, and lifted her before His people as a shining, unifying ‘star’ to remind them of His presence.4 Her very name helped her people remember that God was at work even when they couldn’t see Him.
Another time new monikers were used to illustrate a truth occurred when God spoke to the remnant of His people returning after exile: “Never again will you be called ‘The Forsaken City’ or ‘The Desolate Land’. Your new name will be ‘The City of God’s Delight’ and ‘The Bride of God’ for the Lord delights in you” (Isaiah 62:4 NLT). Their change in status is reflected in their new names.
The long awaited Messiah is known by many names. Isaiah called him the Suffering Servant (52,53), and that same prophet spoke that His name would be Immanuel – because He would be God with us (7:14). Isaiah kept the names flowing: “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (9:6). And, as we’ve been noting in this series, Jesus gave Himself names, identifying Himself with seven “I Am” titles.5 Then there are those who called Him Lamb of God and Lion of Judah (John 1:29; Revelation 5:5). Why so many names for Jesus? Because they reflect each aspect of His character. They help us understand His vast identity as the Son of God.
And the better we know our Savior, the better we will know ourselves – because we’re meant to be like Him. In fact, the title we’ve been given, Christian, holds deep significance, as it is literally defined, “little anointed one” (Acts 11:26). In other words, we are Little Christs.
Let that name sink in.
Friends, names matter. And the Bible demonstrates over and over just how meaningful a name can be – especially when that name is from God.
Our New Names
Collectively, we have God-given names:
- Names that identify us as His: Daughters, Beloved, Bride of Christ, Children of God
- Names that help us remember God’s promises: Known, Seen, Loved, Forgiven, Free, Held, Led, Filled
- Names that remind us who we are in Christ: Child of Light, Chosen, Healed, Friend, Strong, Blameless,6 Whole and Holy
God names His people today just as He did in ancient times, corporately and individually – because He is claiming us as His own.
“I have called you by name; you are mine.”
Isaiah 43:1
There’s an incredible promise tucked into the second chapter of Revelation – where Jesus is specifically talking to the churches, to the believers on earth:
“To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.”
Revelation 2:17 NLT
Several times in the opening chapters of Revelation, the churches are called to be conquerors – to be victorious – but not in battle! Rather, it’s in their faithfulness to God, despite what they face or feel.7
And all believers who remain faithful will be given “hidden manna” – a symbol Jesus. Just as God gave the wandering Israelites manna every day in the wilderness to nourish and strengthen them, faithful Christ followers will be given more of Christ – for strength to endure all that the world and enemy throw at them.8
Recall that Jesus linked Himself to the manna of Moses’ day:
“I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
John 6:48-51
What we’re given is not literal manna. It’s spiritual. It’s Jesus. It’s available to all who believe Him. And it’s hidden from all who do not.
In addition, each faithful follower is given a white stone with a secret name engraved upon it. A new name. A name only known by the recipient and the Giver. This is one of those symbols in Revelation that is mysterious, not completely clear. Perhaps it’s an allusion to the ancient Hebrew priests who wore the breastplate that held twelve precious stones with the name of each tribe inscribed on them, symbolizing the priest bringing all the people into God’s presence (Exodus 28:21). Or it might be a reference to the Roman practice of giving winners of their athletic games white stones with their names engraved on them, granting them access to a victor’s celebration.9 Or any number of other possibilities. But, here’s what we know. In Christ, we are promised to be made new (2 Corinthians 5:17). And as the Bible demonstrates to us, God accords new names frequently – often as an indication of newness of life and purpose.
So, what a beautiful image that we are gifted new names in Christ. When we allow ourselves to sit with God and listen, we’ll hear names like Faithful, Strong, Bold, and Peaceful spoken over us. New names that not only replace old labels but represent who we are in Christ. Names that speak newness into being.
Like the time God spoke a new name over me, Brave. I felt anything but brave when I was asked to step into a leadership role as a young adult. In fact, it felt wrong to be the ‘leader’ of a group of older women who had been mentoring me, who were so much more spiritually mature than I was. When I was ready to say no to the nomination, God told me I was Brave. That in Him, I could step up and do all He was asking of me. In that moment and over the course of many months, I leaned heavily into my new name and discovered bravery within myself I never imagined I could possess.
We are given new names to carry in our hearts – through life, to others, and into eternity.
Bread of Life
I love how God weaves it all together – how the main verse about us being given a new name contains a connection to Jesus’ name, Bread of Life (Revelation 2:17). He alone is our sustaining power. He alone is what we need to hunger for, to want more of – because when we come to Him, we’ll no longer desire the not-so-nourishing food of the world (John 6:35).
The next time we find ourselves hungering for anything other than Christ – approval, love, purpose, success, validation – we can remember we’ve been given the hidden manna. We’ve been given the Bread of Life who fills every gaping hole and satisfies every longing.
We can look to our Father to find that white stone with our new name written upon it and remember who we truly are. We are made new in Christ, and we have new names to prove it – names that redeem us to the reality of life and belief God has always desired for us!
Father God, You are the Almighty, the Maker of Heaven and Earth, the Giver of Life – and new names. It’s such a demonstration of your love that You take the time to speak over us with newness in order to help us step into the lives You have for us. We confess that we’ve worn the wrong names for too long. It is time to look to You, to listen to your still, small voice and receive the names You have for us – may they redeem us into the lives you intend. Lord Jesus, Son of God, King of Kings, – we thank You for being our Bread of Life. We believe in You – we believe You – with all our hearts and minds, with all our souls and strength. So, we ask that in this season You would speak a new name over each of us, helping us to receive all the love and power and truth that the Father offers to us. And we thank You that by turning our eyes and ears to You we will find our hunger satisfied and our thirst quenched. You are all we need, so we receive the name You have for us as a symbol of the work You are doing in us – even as You fill us. Holy Spirit, we desire to live lives worthy of God’s call, so would You pour out on us the power to accomplish all the good things our faith prompts us to do? Would You keep speaking our new names over us so that we never forget the truth behind our identities in Christ? We know at the core of our identity we are Little Christs, and we want to live worthy of the name we bear. So, we relinquish our attempts to earn such a name and, instead, look to You, the Holy One dwelling in us, for direction and power and grace to live from the new names God has bestowed upon us. In the name of Jesus – the name above every other name – we pray. Amen.
(Inspired by Revelation 1:8, 2:17; Isaiah 43:1; John 6:35-40,48-51; 2 Thessalonians 11:12; Acts 11:26; Philippians 2:9-11)
Resources: I love sharing with you the books, podcasts, articles, and anything else that has inspired, encouraged, or taught me. These are humble offerings with no expectations.
- 1 – Madeleine L’Engle’s book, Walking on Water^
- 2 – Gretchen Saffles’ Bible study, Redefined: A Bible Study on Identity in Christ
- 3 – The Bible Project has some great details about Jacob’s name and life
- 4 – The Sight and Sound production of Queen Esther does a great job of demonstrating both meanings of her name – and the show is just so good.
- 5 – This website lists the seven I Am statements in short order
- 6 – This website expands on ten of these identifiers
- 7 – This Bible Project video does a great job of giving an overview of the repeated statement
- 8 – This Got Questions article goes into more detail about the hidden manna
- 9 – This Got Questions article lists several theories behind the meaning of the white, engraved stones of Revelation 2:17.
- 10 — From Christy Nockels’ book, The Life You Long For^
- Our Hidden Identities playlist packs a punch about our new name in Christ! Turn up the volume and sing these lyrics as the Truth they are!!
- Our opening song, “Made for More,” by Josh Baldwin and Jenn Johnson – “I wasn’t made to be tending a grave; I was called by name”
- Charity Gayle and David Gentile’s “New Name Written Down in Glory” — “See, I’m now a new creation in Christ; The old has gone, there’s new life; I live by faith, not by sight; There is a new name written down in glory; And it’s mine, yes, it’s mine”
- Forrest Frank’s most peppy, positive song, “Good Day” – “the God who made the universe knows me by my name, turning old things new”
- I’m asking for your prayers about The Abiding Life newsletter as I’m considering changing platforms. I’d love prayers for God’s will and wisdom. XOXO. For now, you can still subscribe here if you’d like to receive future issues.
Rhythms: As my newsletter’s title infers, we seek to develop an abiding life in this space — a place where we can get informed but also be transformed as we learn to abide in God’s presence throughout our days. I like to think that developing rhythms is one way to aid us in our desire to become more Christlike.
- As we lean into the process of learning more about ourselves — our true identities in Christ — we are going to step into the spiritual practice of REST. One name we all bear is BELOVED. And when we fully embrace our identity as Beloved of God, we discover a rest that comes from living in those unforced rhythms of grace.
Christy Nockels describes the idea of living out of our belovedness as “living from the bullseye.”10 Picture concentric circles — at the center is abiding with Christ, our place of safety and growth and humble confidence in who we are. Christy elaborates, “Inside-out living calls us to hide in the center of God’s love and then emerge from that hiding, every day, into the rings beyond. We begin our day with looking to God and placing ourselves underneath His covering. We consecrate our heart to His and, confident in our unshakable identity as the Beloved, trust that He will hold up our cause.”10
And this, my friends, is the most restful way we can live. (Even when life is anything but restful…)
This week, let’s practice imagining ourselves as living in this bullseye with God — fully surrounded by His grace and immersed in His love. Let’s allow ourselves to not only own the name Beloved but to carry it with us into our days — to move into the ‘rings’ of our outer-lives, where every word and action that flows from us finds its source from that holy love in us. Instead of striving to please and perform and hide, we’ll move with a restfulness that allows us to be our True Selves and to share God’s love with others. XOXO
- And while it’s not a spiritual practice or rhythm, I invite you to share this site. This is such an important topic that I want as many people as possible to join us here. Together we’ll find support and encouragement and the simple truth that we are not alone in our struggles.
Featured Photo by Thomas William on Unsplash.
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