In a Name
By Reverend Dr. Peola C. Hicks

Did you ever wonder "What’s In a Name"?

Names mean different things to different people. I have a teenage daughter that loves to shop at certain brand name stores. She was so excited last week when she informed me that a new store just opened in the mall named "Charlotte Russe." When I asked her what was so special about this store, she told me that it was a trendy store that sells clothes and jewelry that young girls like. The sound of the store did not excite me, but my daughter convinced me of the importance of this name. It held a lot of significance for her, and it also made the mall in our city somewhat "cool" because of this store new store. So what’s in a name.

In the ancient world, a name was more than a label. A person's name was a serious matter because they believed names told you something about a person's personality and character. When you told someone your name, you not only told them who you were, you also told them what you were. Because of this, when a person’s character changed he or she often received a new name, which indicated a new being! Abram became Abraham, Sarai became Sarah and Jacob became Israel… it showed that they were in covenant relationship with God.

In the same way, when I pray, I rely on the power of a name, the name of Jesus. It is more than a label of identification. It is more than a new fad. When I hear the name, I understand that it describes His nature and the purpose of life. It tells not only who He was, it also tells what he was about. The name Jesus was known to Mary before He was born. The angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, " Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins… Matthew 1:20-21.

The name of Jesus is the Greek form of the Jewish name Joshua. And it means " The Lord is salvation " it means wholeness, peace and well-being. The person of Jesus Christ, the power of this life, and the importance of his victory at Calvary, epitomize perfectly the meaning of His name… ’ The Lord is salvation " It is for this reason that we can confidently call upon His name to help us in our time of need.

We can call upon His name because it has the power to heal, and deliver, and set us free. Thank God that names have meaning. I am thankful that I can call upon a name that is exciting today, and will be the same tomorrow, and everyday the same. It is the lifeline that gives me confidence to pray and expect the power of the name to encourage, comfort and keep me while I wait for answers, and the assurance to continually come back in my time of need.