Mom Motherhood Trust Sons Love

What’s in a Name?

Because they have not followed me wholeheartedly, not one of the men twenty years old or more who came up out of Egypt will see the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob- not one except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they followed the LORD wholeheartedly. (Numbers 32:11-12)

Today I continue with the “Celebration of Life” series.  I’ll begin where I left off.

June 24th, 1978 ~ The day my parents got married.

June 14th, 1979 ~ The day I was born.

To read more about these events and the beginning of my life, you can go to the devotional titled “Wonderfully Made.”  God wants us to celebrate every moment and that is why I’m taking the time to go back over the moments I’ve been given in the last 30 years.  Another great moment for me came on July 17th, 1980, the day my brother Caleb Ray Lindberg was born.  True, I don’t remember much about that day, but I do remember many moments since that day which involve my brother.

One of the greatest gifts my parents gave myself and my siblings was our names.  My mom entrusted my dad to pray and be led by God on how to name us.  My dad came up with our first names through prayer.  Then my mom helped my dad with the middle names.  Our names are strong and fit each one of us so well.  I remember growing up with plaques on the wall that displayed each one of our names and their meaning.  I was so proud of my name and how my parents picked it out for me.  I look at my brother Caleb and I feel the same way about him.

He is a strong man and this verse above, clearly describes his heart.  He does everything wholeheartedly.  In fact, when you take the time to look up the meaning of his name, you will find that his name means “faithful, bold, devotion to God.”  Caleb never does anything half way.  He is determined, he is strong, he has my mom’s love for people, my dad’s tenacity for life, he loves his siblings, he is a loving husband to Stacy, and a wonderful father to his son Isaac.  I had the privilege to watch him as a little boy as he would run up to the altar whenever there was an altar call.  He is always willing to help someone who is in need.

I truly believe that my parents helped my brother become the best man he could be in life.  They poured in to him love and nurtured him.  They showed him the qualities and characteristics he would need, to be the best man he could be in the world he would face.

So what’s in a name?  Well, many times in the Bible God changed someone’s name to reflect the character that was inside of them.  Here are some examples:

“No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.”  (Genesis 17:5)

God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah.  I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her.  I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.”  (Genesis 17:15-16)

And he brought him to Jesus.  Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John.  You will be called Cephas”  (which, when translated, is Peter).  (John 1:42)

Footnotes: Both Cephas (Aramaic) and Peter (Petrov in Greek) mean rock.

God knew how to fit a name with the character of a person.  Abraham was the father over many nations.  Later, he was mentioned in Hebrews for his walk of faith with the Lord.  Sarah was fruitful and from her lineage came kings.  Here are just a few of the kings that came from her line:  the one who fought in many wars ~ King David, the one who asked for wisdom ~ King Solomon, and the King of Kings ~ Jesus Christ.  Take time to read your Bible and you will find many more.  Peter was known as the rock on which God was going to build His church.  And this happened throughout the book of Acts.

So again, what’s in a name?  Well, I have shown you what I believe is in a name.  I have let you see the importance of my brother’s name and how he has lived up to it’s meaning.  I have shown you three names in the Bible.  Now it’s time for you to take on the qualities of your name.  You might be thinking to yourself that you don’t have a special story behind your name or maybe the meaning isn’t as full as you would like it to be.  Well, God has given you meaning, if you have chosen to become a son or daughter of Him through Jesus Christ.  Read the devotional “Table for Two” on the free gift of salvation, if you have yet to make a decision to follow Jesus.

Then let God show you wall the qualities you possess as a son or daughter of God.  Let the significance of that be long lasting!  You are in the family and your title will never expire!  May you celebrate the gift of life God has given you today and every day!

Dear Father God, I celebrate the name You gave me through my parents.  I pray I can live up to all that You have called me to be.  Thank You for my amazing brother.  Thank You for his tremendous heart.  I pray that he will know You more fully, as the days unfold.  May he return to the altar some day soon and continue to live his life out wholeheartedly in all the things he does; as a father, husband, brother, son, and friend.

Living to Glorify My Father in Heaven,

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