J-Lo, Brangelina, Magic,
His Air-ness...nicknames. Most people recognize the person or persons that correspond to each of these nicknames. We may not be celebrities, but some of us possess our very own nickname, too. Names like Shorty, Fats, or Slim represent a physical characteristic, while names like Rocket or the Bambino are given for a skill or achievement. Many people go by a shortened version of their name like JR, Joy, Lizzie, Abe, Ronnie.
Class Clown, Athlete, Book Worm…these are more than nicknames. They are classifications of people. Our given names, our nicknames, and our titles all communicate something about us and usually something about how others see us.
Parents often choose a name for their kids before they are born by using a book or borrowing from a family member or close friend. We don't usually label or nickname our kids before they are born. Those titles come after we have met them. Unless, of course, you are talking about Jesus.
Seven hundred years before Jesus entered the scene in an obscure village, more famous for the people born there than anything else, Jesus was given a name, titles, and nicknames.
In the Bible, the prophet Isaiah wrote these words concerning Jesus: "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." Immanuel means God with us. Isaiah also states concerning Jesus that "he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
This is epic! Immanuel! Wonderful Counselor! Mighty God! Everlasting Father! Prince of Peace! Seven centuries before His birth, Jesus was given nicknames and titles, and these nicknames and titles tell us who HE is. These names reveal how HE interacts with us. These names point us to hope by instructing our lives about our God. These names can make us smile, lean into grace, hold on tight, feel safe, know security, and trust hard in the CHRIST of CHRISTmas. These names reveal a God who is to be trusted, worshipped, obeyed, thanked, followed, and listened to. These names point us to a God we can talk with, laugh with, confide in, believe completely, and love with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. These names instruct concerning God's love, forgiveness, guidance, comfort, and care.
Let's face it - God has a thing for names. In the Bible, He renamed some of His closest friends. He changed Abram to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah, Jacob to Israel, Saul to Paul, and Simon to Peter. Did you know that when we become His friend, He does something amazing with our name? He writes our name in His book. God has a thing for names.
This blog post is written to you as an invitation to hope. This hope is found in friendship with Christ. The names that were given for Christ seven hundred years before that first Christmas teach us how to unwrap this gift of hope. As we get to know each of these names, we get to know the ONE who promised to write our names in His book. Yes, God has a thing for names, because God has a thing for you. For Christmas this year, take time to worship the ONE about whom the scripture says…
"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
(Philippians 2:9-1 6)
UNWRAPPING THIS GIFT
As an act of trust and gratefulness, thank God for writing your name in His book. Send an e-mail, text, or handwritten note to a friend wishing them a great Christmas.