what's in a name?

Names are important.  In our day we often notice that people look like their name.  In years gone by, like a long time ago, names meant more than they do today.  Families thought long and hard before naming their children because they wanted the name they chose to begin great things and great character in their children.

When you hear name, you may get a perception of what a person is like.  I do that.  It’s almost like a judgment call that is not always right.  At Christmas time we have several names that tell us about Jesus.  

Our God is good all the time.  He describes His own character in the use of the names we find in the Scripture, both Old and New Testaments.  These are incredible names:

Isaiah 9:6 NLT

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Matthew 1:21 NLT

And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

Matthew 1:23 NLT

"Look! The virgin will conceive a child!  She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means 'God is with us.'"

He is my Jesus.  Is He yours?  Plain and simple truth.  Jesus became my Savior in May of 1986.  He continues to be my friend.  He is my guide and my comfort.  He blesses you and I with peace and direction as we seek Him.  He is my God.

Who is Jesus to you?  Think about it.  Here are the names that stick out to me in the verses above:

Wonderful counselor … this means that I can go to Him, hear from Him and trust Him, Jesus, at all times.  Best counselor I've EVER had!

Mighty God …He is unending, always faithful, resources upon resources, and He loves me because He is able to love me through all my crud.  That takes us much further because of God's ability to give a child and for Him to be born of a virgin.  What an incredible miracle from our awesome God.

Everlasting Father … as Ephesians 1 reminds all of us, we have an adoptive father who also created me as well.  Nothing can or will change that.  See Romans 8:38-39.  Nothing can separate us from Jesus!

Prince of Peace … I need peace, and I need a lot of it.  Do you?  He gives peace when no one else can.  It is so awesome to be able to trust that His peace.  That peace will keep us from wrong and will keep us strong too.

Save His people from their sins ... JESUS … Enough said.  Jesus is the only savior.  See John 14:6 which states He is the way, trust and life.  I love this fact.  The child of Christmas is the Savior that hung on a cross and resurrected from a tomb alive and well in heaven today.  He is able to save!!!

God with us .... IMMANUEL … Always with me, never leaves me, walking with me, guiding me, loving me.  No matter what.

He will do the same for you.  How awesome our God is!!!  May your Christmas be blessed, and may we keep Him as the center and most important part of our celebration!

NOTE: much of this devotion appeared in December 2010.