JANUARY 22

Genesis 17:1-22, records that as part of the covenant, God changed Abram’s name to Abraham, meaning “father of a great multitude”. God also changed Sarai’s name to Sarah meaning “princess of a multitude.”

Often in Bible times, new names were bestowed to reflect a changed nature. In Old Testament times God changed Jacob’s name to Israel and in the New Testament Saul’s name was changed to Paul.

How do these name-change promises apply to you spiritually? God wants to take your old sin nature, your past, and your failures and make everything new:

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

The new name that God wants to give you will attract the Gentiles (the nations) because they will see a difference in your life:

And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. (Isaiah 62:2)

What is the new name by which you are to be called?

Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. (Revelation 3:12)

God’s name rests upon you. You are called a Christian: “And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts 11:26). You are no longer a servant of sin. You have a new name!

You bear the name of Jesus Christ upon your life. Walk worthy of that name! Paul admonishes us to “…walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2:12).

You are called by Christ’s name.  Are the plans you have made for this day worthy of His name?