December to Remember Day 4

Did Someone Say My Name?

Question for you - What name do you go by?  What I mean is, do you go by your real name or are you a person who is named one name, but everyone really knows you by another? 

Growing up, there was a man in my neighborhood who loved to pick on me, and everyone else for that matter.  I bumped into him several times a week at the corner store.  He was always there, ready with his quick wit.  He drove a little white Nissan pick up truck and instead of calling it his truck or his Nissan like normal people, he would always refer to it as his "Nice Un".  I would bebop into the little store and he would be standing there, wearing his blue Dickies coveralls, Coke in hand, and say, "Did you see my Nice Un out there?"  I would roll my eyes and usually come back with some smarty britches answer. He would just keep on going talking about how "nice" his Nice Un was.  He drove me insane and he knew it and loved every minute of it!

His name was Q.E. Heflin, but no one knew that.  Everyone knew him as "Wink", self declared mayor of Hardmoney (yes, my neighborhood is offically named Hardmoney - I've gotten many a laugh from people over the years from that).  Although Wink and his quick wit are with Jesus now,  if you mention Wink in our neighborhood, everyone knows exactly who you are talking about. But - if you were to say Q.E. Heflin, people would look at you like you had three heads.  He didn't answer to Q.E., he naturally answered to Wink.

My husband is one of those.  His name is Anthony, but no one knows that except for his mom, me, and the IRS.  He has always gone by Todd, and to call him Anthony just seems weird.  He doesn't naturally answer to Anthony.  He naturally answers to Todd, Dad, and Daddy.

Sometimes we are given a name, but we answer to many names.

If you are in a room with several people and you hear your name, it naturally gets your attention.  Our instinct to respond to our name is almost instantaneous. We scan asking, "Did someone call my name?"

We talked about names yesterday, how special the meaning of a name was in biblical times, and how God had Jesus' name picked out for Mary.   We'll pick up in Luke 1, the angel is still talking to Mary.

He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High.....Luke 1:32

His name would be Jesus, as we talked about yesterday, but he would be "called" other things as well.  We may have one name, but we also naturally respond to others, maybe a nickname, Mommy, or Daddy. 

So does He.

He naturally responds to other names besides Jesus.  As naturally as you respond to "Mommy", it is His nature to answer to
Son of the Most High....
Savior....
Redeemer....
Lord....
Messiah....
Wonderful....
Counselor....
Prince of Peace....
Everlasting Father....
Abba Daddy....
Alpha....
Omega....
Jehovah....
Immanuel....
I AM....

Imagine yourself in a crowded room and you think you hear someone say your name.  You turn looking for the one who uttered it, scanning the room until you connect with who called you. 

Now - imagine Him, in the splendor of Heaven, celebrating with those who have gone before us.  You are still here and in your need you cry out.....Savior......Lord.....instantaneously His brows raise, His conversation stops, and He scans eternity for you.  He doesn't ask if someone called His name.  Instead, He states with certainty, "She called My name."

That my friend is your fourth gift in this December to Remember.

Jesus, I am so thankful that you are the I AM.  Whatever my need is, You are the answer, and all I have to do is mention your Name and I have your full attention.  You never hold up your finger gesturing for me to wait a minute.  You scan eternity just at the sound of my voice mentioning your name and immediately I have You.  You are so amazing.