What's In A Name?

There’s something about having ones name broadcasted in a positive way that gives great delight to the name-bearer.  Of course, as Christians, we must fight that desire for greatness as the sin of pride.  Consider having an act proclaimed great without the mention of the name or names of the doers of that great act!  Would you feel the tug of desire to say, “I did that!” or “Hey, that was me!”  Or if having done it for God’s glory, would you be content not being known?!!

David Platt, author of Radical, is preaching through the book of Acts.  As he taught through chapters 9-12, he voiced his commentary on 11:19-21.  He reminded his hearers that the church at Antioch was a great church.  As most believers know, disciples were first called “Christians” at Antioch.  Some other great details about Antioch: the hand of the Lord was with them; a large number turned to the Lord; the church at Jerusalem was so impressed by the goings on that they sent Barnabas; Barnabas was so impressed, he traveled to find Paul to bring him there; they remained there for a year to teach the passionate believers there.  There’s more, but the main point Pastor Platt makes comes from verse 20: “But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.”  Notice the phrase “some of them”!  Some unnamed men from Cyprus and Cyrene started the great church at Antioch.

Meditate on Isaiah 63:14b: “So You led Your people, to make for Yourself a glorious name.”  Immediately Rahab the prostitute comes to mind.  She said to the spies, “…for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.”  That statement comes at the end of verse eleven of Joshua, chapter two.  In fact before that statement, starting with verse nine, she rehearsed all that she had heard about God and the end of verse eleven is the conclusion she comes to about this great God.  He had indeed “led His people” and made “for Himself a glorious name”. 

This is also what “some of them” from Cyprus and Cyrene had done in starting the church at Antioch by preaching the Lord Jesus. They had made much of God and His glorious name. Let us learn from these “unnamed” men!  Let us work, pray, teach and spend ourselves for the glory of God.  Let us do this without the need for praise from man.  We are children of God, the King of all the earth.  We need no praise from man!  Our delight is in the Name of the Sin-bearer.  At His name, every knee will bow!

(Philippians 2:9-11)