BEAR THE NAME GOD GIVES YOU
The only person that can tell you exactly who you are is God. This is because God's purpose is usually inserted or stated in the name He calls you. For instance, the idea of God calling Abraham 'father of many nations' had the purpose of God firmly implanted in the central position of Abraham's personality. In Genesis 17:5-6 (NIV), God said, 'No longer will you be called Abram ; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you.' The name gives expression to fruitfulness, expansion and greatness. So it seems quite obvious that his blessing and greatness were encoded in the name change.
Reference: Matthew 3:17 New King James Version (NKJV) 'And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'
Before Jesus could go public with His ministry, God labelled Him, 'My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.' It was the testimony of God about Jesus and Jesus continued to bear the name. God's voice came as an attestation to the human awareness of how He sees and approves Jesus, the Son of man. So Jesus walked on the earth with the sense that God was His Father. The same way, what God calls you is an attestation to your value. This is always God's idea.
In 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 (NKJV), we find a story about Jabez. His mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. Even though Jabez was more honourable than his brethren, the name given to him by the mother influenced his life negatively until He called on God to intervene. The Bible says, 'Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request (verse 10).
The name Jabez means 'sorrow and trouble'. You can imagine living with the consciousness that you are a sorrow and you cause pain. Wherever you get to, trouble will emerge. Even people will begin to say, 'Here comes trouble' once you show up. Others will describe you as pain and sorrow. Even if you're not called such noticeably, the name bearing alone already controls your existence and determines your lifestyle. The golden news is that Jabez refused to continue to wear the wrong label or let the name define him. How? He approached God who gives us the right name and makes everything beautiful. Instead of listening to his critics or blaming his mother, he turned to God in prayer. He prayed for a significant turnaround and he approached the right person - God.
When you admit the wrong label, you make your life uncomfortable, if not miserable, because you'll live contrary to God's will for your life. Don't allow just anybody to label you because once the wrong people label you and you accept it, you'll start acting accordingly. You will not only believe that's who you are, you will also walk in that light. Certainly, only God can tell you who you are. Just as Jabez did, go directly to the source, who created you (God).
The God who introduced Jesus as His beloved Son, has called you blessed and highly favoured. And that means, you must function as the blessed because He's equipped you, empowered you and enabled you to prosper and excel. So when people try to limit you by putting any form of contrary label on you, bear the name God has given you and blow trumpet about it by exuberant declarations. It is God that tells you who you are and that means, you are accepted and approved by God. This is the truth that surmounts everybody else's disapproval and grants you the advantage in life.
Scripture Reading - John 15:15; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:17; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Peter 2:9; Galatians 3:26; Romans 8:37.
Exuberant Declaration: I know who I am in Christ and I honestly accept the truths in God's Word about my true identity. God loves me unconditionally and He calls me a new creation and His righteousness in Christ. I am His chosen one, a royal priest and more than conquerors. I overwhelmingly conquer in all things through Christ who loves me. Hallelujah!
