A New Name
By Debbonnaire Kovacs, Jan 13, 2016
One of this week’s passages, Isaiah 62:1-5, contains this promise: “You shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give.” It reminded me of chapter four in my book, Ten Promises Carved in Stone, which studies the Ten Commandments for what they really are, promises from the mouth of God. I decided that for this week’s devotion, I would share with you the last part of the chapter on the third commandment, “You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain.”
The book of Revelation closes the Bible with a curious, meandering thread on names. Watch this progression:
“I know you hold fast My name” (Revelation 2:13).
“To him who overcomes…I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it” (2:17).
“He who overcomes shall thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father” (3:5).
“I know you…have not denied My name” (3:8).
“He who overcomes…I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God…and My new name” (3:12).
There follows a lot about a dragon and a beast and their name, and those who receive this name, and what happens to them. Then we see the Lamb and the 144,000, with “His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads” (14:1).
Next the Lamb becomes a fearsome warrior. “And His eyes are a flame of fire, and upon His head are many diadems; and He has a name written upon Him which no one knows except Himself. And He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood; and His name is called The Word of God” (19:12—13).
Then the grand finale—“And there shall no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it [the New Jerusalem], and His bond-servants shall serve Him; and they shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads” (22:4).
The name of God means power, all the power of the universe, available to you on request, for His business.
The name of God means protection from the powers and principalities of darkness that are more afraid of you than you are of them, when you bear that name.
The name of God means love, more than you dreamed possible. You’ll feel the overwhelming love within, and find you’re able to love others you never thought you could love.
The name of God means joy forevermore. Don’t take it in vain—take it for all it’s worth!
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Learn more about this book (originally published by Pacific Press as God Said, I Promise) here, or order it anywhere.