What is it about a name that makes it so special to us? I began thinking about this after talking to a teenager as we stood outside her church in Black River, Jamaica, one Sunday morning. She asked, Would you mention my name in Our Daily Bread? I asked her if she had a story to tell, and she said, No, just mention my name.
As I thought about her requestand her nameI wondered why her parents named her Joyeth. Seeing the happy nature of her personality led me to conclude that if their rationale was to urge her along toward joy in her life, they had succeeded.
Most parents have that choice when a new baby is coming. But one baby received His name in a far different way. It wasnt His parents choice that led to His moniker, and His wasnt a name given to coax Him toward a personality trait. Im speaking of the One whose name was provided by an angel who told His parents to call His name Jesus (Matt. 1:21). Why? For He will save His people from their sins.
No wonder His is the name above all names (Phil. 2:9). Its a name that reveals His purposeto provide salvation from the penalty of our sins. Jesus is indeed the name worth mentioning.
Read: Matthew 1:18-25
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Years ago there was a lovely Mexican movie star. My mother liked her name, so she used it. So my first name is Mexican or Spanish, the middle name is French in origin, and the last name is German.