When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous.” Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him, “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.”
God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall give rise to nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.”
Lord,
names say much about who we are.
You are called by many names:
Rock, Fortress, Lion,
Mother, Father, Nurse,
Almighty, Everlasting, Alpha, Omega,
Love.
I too have been called many names:
Chris, Moose, Preacher,
Topher, Denny, Denzel,
Son, Daddy, Honey...
But I also remember those other names:
Nerd, Band Geek,
Mr. Smarty pants,
Sinner...
Lord,
as part of your covenant promise
to Abraham and Sarah
you changed their names.
They are reminded
every time they hear their name
who you called them to be!
Lord,
change my name too!
so that I too will be reminded of your covenant promise:
Make my name: Beloved Child of God.
or maybe: Saint by the blood of Christ.
or: One among the "People of the Cross".
Lord, Today and everyday
may I answer to the name: Christian.
For that is who I am.
Amen.
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