What's Your Name?

What is your name?  Is that name how your friends and family refer to you,  or do you have a nickname? Some people have biblical names,  some names have been passed down through families for generations,  and some names are given out of respect for someone in history.

While these are names that we are given at birth or by friends and family throughout our lives, the world often has different names for us:  guilty,  addict,  liar,  divorcee,  sinner,  etc. These are just a few labels the world wants to give us based on the decision we make.  Using these names,  Satan wants to keep us knocked down and feeling ashamed of ourselves so that we don’t realize who we really are in Christ.  Satan’s job,  according to John 10:10 (NLT),  is to steal,  kill,  and destroy,  and an effective way to do that is through the constant reminders of his labels for us. As long as we dwell on the guilt and shame of the past,  not only will our relationships with Christ suffer,  those around us whom we could testify to will suffer as well.  

However,  there is good news!  The world doesn’t have the authority to give us labels.  Satan doesn’t have the authority to name us!  The only One that can boast in that authority is our Lord,  Jesus Christ.  It’s in Him only where we understand who we truly are and who we were created to be.  

Only when put our faith in Christ and trust in His blood can we be confident in our true labels as provided by God:

We are forgiven (Ephesians 1:7-8),  we are chosen (Romans 8:31:39),  we are capable (Philippians 4:13),  we are valuable (1 Corinthians 6:20),  and we are dearly loved (Colossians 3:12).

Don’t be beat down by Satan’s labels!  Allow Christ to lift you up with His!

In Christ! Brandon