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There was a time when the meaning of names was thought to be important. My name, for example means “laurel-crowned” meaning “a champion or a noted warrior.” Or as someone observed, it means “the guy with weeds in his hair.” Not quite so flattering!
A name is important and cannot be shed like a garment. And that’s why parents work so hard to choose the right name for their newborns.
A good name, handed down from good parents, is a great asset.
Sometimes, people wearing the same (or similar) names can cause problems for us. A member of my family once had a difficult time leasing an apartment because someone using the same name had defaulted on a lease at another apartment. Both fellows had the same name but were unrelated.
On the other hand, I am proud to share the name of my father. He was well known as a good journalist and a good citizen in the area.
There is a name that is above all names. “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).
God the Father gave His Son a special name that every knee will bow” (Philippians 2:9-11). When we become Christians, we are given his name. Let’s live so as to give honor to the name of our Lord!
Larry Fitzgerald
Woodlawn church of Christ
Abilene, TX