Hello! Are you ready for Christmas? When people ask that question they’re often wondering, “Are your presents bought and wrapped? Are your Christmas cards sent and the goodies baked?” That’s not the readiness that matters most! In this season of Advent may the preparation that tops our list be the preparation of our hearts as we remember His first coming and look forward to His next. Have a blessed week putting His name on display!
Turn to Proverbs chapter 22 to get wisdom that goes beyond the gold!
A GOOD NAME
A good name is more desirable than great riches,
to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.
Proverbs 22:1
What do the names Nae, Percy, Bell, Rooney, and Bear have in common? Unless you’re a close friend or relative of my family, probably not much! That list includes my childhood nickname, and those of my siblings. We affectionately associate those names with one another yet today.
What names are personal to you? From given names to professional titles to pet names, each one of us has a name or two. For those who kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name, we’ve also been gifted the name child of God (Ephesians 3:14-15).
The names Christian, Daughter of the King, and Beloved originate with God. It’s because of His divine paternity and through His Son Jesus that we have a name that is more desirable than great riches and better than silver or gold (Proverbs 22:1).
To have a good name means to have a good reputation marked by integrity, godly character and conduct. It’s one thing to receive a good name from God, it’s quite another to live up to that name.
Women of integrity have a good name because they hallow God’s name. Jesus taught us to pray, Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name (Matthew 6:9). We hallow God’s name when we think on His holiness and “recognize Him as transcendent in every moral attribute” (John Lewis). We hallow His name when we sanctify God in our hearts, setting apart Christ as Lord (1 Peter 3:15). His name is hallowed when our thoughts, conversations, and actions honor Him, and regrettably, His name is profaned when we fail to live as He requires.
If you were introduced to someone new in your community or at church and she said to you, “Oh, I’ve heard of you!” What do you think it is that she probably heard? Would it be your tender heart toward children, your prayer life, or your service projects? Or would it be that you’re a shopaholic, have control issues, or are updating your status on Facebook by the quarter hour? What is your name associated with first? Our integrity impacts our reputation, our reputation reflects our name, and more importantly, the holy name of God.
Wisdom Step: Who are you trying to make a name for today? Seek to only desire and pursue His name and glory today and always.
My dear Jesus, my Savior, is so deeply written in my heart, that I feel confident, that if my heart were to be cut open and chopped to pieces, the name of Jesus would be found written on every piece.
St. Ignatius of Antioch
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