What's your name?

In Jesus' day, there was a man who'd been chained in a cave for years because he was plagued by evil spirits. He was hairy, matted, dirty and probably didn't have fantastic body odour. And then there was Jesus, who walked up to this unkempt, possessed and unwanted man, and said, 'What is your name?' He didn't look at the outside. He looked past the (very real) filth that was caked up around him.

This happens again and again in Jesus' life. He puts people back together as fully restored people - forgiving their sins, healing their disease. 'What is your name?' When he asks that, he's saying that he's not interested in their mistakes or the names they've been called; he's concerned with them as whole, important people. He'll let nothing stand in the way, not even the several thousand demons that had made their home in the man (read the story in Luke 8:26-39).

What others call us doesn't change the truth. What we call ourselves (these are the ones that stick around longer) at our worst moments doesn't change this truth: God is concerned with our true person, our value as son or daughter of the living God. Let's allow him in, and he'll restore us.



So what now? Find yourself trapped by a name (label) you can't shake? Remind yourself that every family in Heaven and on earth derives its name from God (Ephesians 3:14-15 NIV). Don't agree with the name or label. Pray that God will restore his name in you: the Name above all names.





— SCRIPTURE —

'Jesus asked him, "What is your name?"' Luke 8:30 NIV
— SOULFOOD —

1 Sam 8-10, Matt 22:15-22, Ps 21, Pro 16:16-19