Photo Credit: Erin Quillman | Dow Gardens | Midland, MI

 

Fair verses Favored

“You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.'” – Exodus 33:12

We have a tradition in our house, we have favorites.

I recently read a blog post by Candace Roberts on the idea of fairness and I really agreed with it. After thinking on it for a while, I realized how much.

I grew up with an extended family that more or less jokingly prized a position of favoritism. I saw my grown family members reduced to childish games of running up to my grandmother and proudly presenting reasons why they should hold the coveted position. There were many laughs and plenty of pranks, and the prize landed on whoever was the most vocal at the time. I think my mother, the only girl in a household of boys, was the only one who held a favored spot consistently as “the princess,” lending to the example by which all of her brothers have gone on to dote on their own daughters with similar affections.

In my own childhood, fairness was prized. Under the Christmas tree, all of our gifts were lovingly picked and painstakingly matched with equal number and price range. We all tried similar activities and we all had our own turn at similar outings. It was a good way to fairly handle 5 kids on a one income budget.

With my own kids, I hold that each one is uniquely my favorite after I read a book called, “I love you the purplest.” The message stuck with me and changed the way I favor my children.

Each time they reach another birthday, or pass another milestone, or just come to me for hugs, I tell them softly that they are my most favorite [name] in the whole wide world! It’s the truth, and it’s just for them. There is little rivalry for my affection because they know they are my favorite for who they are. Each one in his own way is unique, different in the way they think and act and react. They are each different in the way that they love me and I love each one for who they are.

Just like God does for us.

God Loves You for You

Loving God brings a promise of favor. Each name on the palm of God’s hand has a meaningful purpose.

“I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” – Isaiah 49:16

God gave deeper meaning to Abram’s name when he called him Abraham and gave him a promise of being the father of many nations (Gn 17:5). God changed Abraham’s wife’s name from Sarai to Sarah with the promise that, through her son, many nations and kings would come from her (Gn 17:15). He changed Jacob’s name to Israel with the promise of a nation and a company of nations and kings would come from him (Gn 35:10). Then Jesus himself, standing before his friend, changed Simon’s name to Cephas, which translates to Peter, and gave him the promise that His church would be built on him, the ‘Rock’ (Jn 1:42; Matt 16:17-19). Each Name held a special purpose and plan that God fulfilled through them, and we are part of that plan.

We each have a purpose to fulfill and a name we need to live up to. We are called Christians. We have a name and a promise. Our promise is we are called Children of God. Our plan and our purpose is to make disciples, and it has been from long ago.

“The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give. …And they shall be called The Holy People, The Redeemed of the LORD; and you shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.” – Isaiah 62: 2, 12

God gave you a Name and a Purpose

Recently, my son was upset because some kids at school were teasing him about his middle [name]. I had been sternly correcting him, using his full name and he yelled at me to not say it out loud. I softened my tone and asked him why he was embarrassed by his middle name. He said that the kids were making fun of it and calling him by a cartoon character with the same name. The mama bear in me came out and I defensively gave him all the reasons he never needed to be embarrassed or ashamed of the name given to him. He was named after his great-grandfather whom I absolutely adored, the meaning of which is a strong name used for generations in Scotland.

Once my son heard the reason and meaning behind his name, he sat up straighter and was proud to carry the name. He is my “mighty chief” and “world ruler”, in name and personality.

“If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of Glory and of God rests on you.” – 1 Peter 4:14

The Spirit of God rests on you

Near the end of the book of Acts the apostel Paul was in chains for his belief in Christ and because he didn’t back down from telling people about Him. In court, before a king, he gave his testimony. King Agrippa asked him;

“Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” Paul replied, “Short time or long – I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” – Acts 26:28-29

God shows us His favor in our names and our purpose. It is not fair, the things we must suffer in this world, but we have a hope and promise.

You are God’s most favorite [name] in the whole wide world!

He changed the names of the Patriarchs Abraham, Israel, and Peter to add meaning to their mission. We bear the name of God as representatives, ambassadors of the Church. Your name has been changed to be called a Christian, do you know your purpose?