What is in a name? Nothing defines us in our lives more than what we are named. We are given a name, but through our lives, we also take on other names.
We know Jesus by many names: wonderful, counselor, almighty God, everlasting Father, prince of peace, as Handel’s oratorio tells us. But we too have names that define us.
In the scriptures, often the name that one is born with is not the name God bestows upon them.
Jacob becomes Israel.
Sarai becomes Sarah.
Abram becomes Abraham.
Simon becomes Peter.
Adamh becomes Adam and Eve.
These names describe something about how that person has been changed by God into something new, given a new mission, or restored to a new condition.
Names in scripture often indicate something about the personality of their holders, or the places where he …