I WILL CHANGE YOUR NAME

Morning Everyone,

More often than not I have to be forcefully reminded of what is really going on in my life. I get so caught up in the day to day of read, write, work, exercise, sleep, ad nauseum that I forget what is important or I lose track of where I’ve been and where I’m heading. I get lost in the midst of the struggle with my old man so much sometimes that the fight can almost feel overwhelmingly hopeless. If you’ve read this blog more than once you have obviously experienced that first hand.

In the midst of pursuing the calling it is easy to forget that we have a calling because we have been redeemed. Yes, there is a struggle with sin, with the old man, there can be no doubt of that, but if the struggle begins to overwhelm us then perhaps it is time to go back and remember what has happened in our lives; to remember the promise of redemption.

The random mix that I played on my computer this morning helped me put it in perspective at least temporarily. It started out with Tom Petty singing Even the Losers get lucky sometimes. A note that rings all too true to my soul but then it was followed by John Michael Talbot singing: One body in Christ, one; One bread of life broken for many so that the many in him may be whole.

With those words I was reminded: That I will be made whole. That is what this is all about. This life, this work, this mess, this process is about wholeness: Becoming whole but not making yourself whole - being made whole.

That thought process continued when Andy Pratt started singing one of my all-time favorite worship songs: I will change your name You shall no longer be called Wounded, outcast, lonely or afraid. I will change your name. Your new name shall be Confidence, joyfulness, overcoming one Faithfulness, friend of God One who seeks My face.

Americans are clueless about names. As Butch says in Pulp Fiction: “I’m American, our names don’t mean sh^%.”

But they do mean something to God. The name is the essence of who you are. When Jacob the deceiver had an encounter with YWHW his name was changed to Israel –God prevails. His name change depicted the change in his heart. I believe that is where the concept of having a Christian name comes from. When you come to Christ you become a new creature on the inside and YWHW gives you a new name.

That is something to be thankful about. There are people out there who really don’t believe in truth; they really don’t believe the word of YWHW to be the word of YWHW. But you see I am such a mess even after 51 years of pressing on to the higher calling that if the word of YWHW is not absolutely true then I have no hope at all. I know what I’m like on the inside. When I was young and still blind to my true condition I thought I could, with enough time and perseverance, make everything alright. I realize now eternity isn’t enough time for me to make everything inside me alright. I have to be made alright and for that I need the transcendent other worldly Ywhw to immanently come down to me and speak his word of truth. I need him to speak my name into existence.

I have to hang on to the absolutely true for all time and all places truth of Isaiah 62: For Brad’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Mr. Stephens’ sake I will not keep quiet, until his righteousness goes forth like brightness, and his salvation like a torch that is burning.

The nations will see his righteousness, and all kings his glory; and he will be called by a new name which the mouth of the LORD will designate. He will also be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of his God. It will no longer be said to him, “Forsaken,” nor to his land will it any longer be said, “Desolate”; But he will be called, “My delight is in him.”

One body in Christ means that those words apply just as equally to you as they do to me.

I can barely hold back the tears of joy as I contemplate these things. Wholeness, and not only wholeness but to also be YWHW’s Delight is promised by the sure word of the Mighty One over all of creation.

Let us remember the promises of YWHW as we break bread and stuff turkey this year so that we will have something to hope for and to be thankful for.

God keeps his true word.

Grace and Peace,

Brad