“A rose is a rose is a rose,” but a name is something else altogether!  Names, in God’s realm, are a serious undertaking.  For example, look at some of His names, and what they mean:

• Jehovah-Jireh – My Provider
• Jehovah Rapha – My Healer
• Jehovah Raah – My Shepherd
• Jehovah Shalom – The Lord is Peace
• Jehovah Nissi – My Banner

Now, consider some of the people whose names God changed:  Abram/Abraham; Sari/Sarah; Jacob/Israel.  And, what about people whose names have most specific meanings:  Isaac/Laughter; Ichabod/No glory; Ebenezer/The Lord has brought us safe thus far (Ebenezer was, of course, a pillar of stones and not a man!).  In the New Testament, Simon became Peter and Saul became Paul.

As names mean so much to God, have you ever considered what your name means?  A quick survey of the names of the members of my immediate, or nuclear, family reveals:

• Melissa – Bee/Honey
• Matthew – Gift of the Lord
• Meredith – Great/Splendid
• Clarissa – Bright, Clear, Famous
• Floyd – Gray Haired One/Wise One

Once you know what your name means, you have to ask yourself, “Do I live up to my name?”  If you know our family, you might wonder if our son, Matthew, is living up to his name!  Melissa is sweet; Meredith is great, and Clarissa is bright!

That, I guess, brings us to me.  If you asked a host of people I do believe that they would affirm that, yes, I am wise!  The reason is because at a very young age I learned the secret to wisdom, as found in James 1:5, If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally.

Now, you may think, “What a coincidence – your parents named you Floyd and you really are wise!”  Well, first of all, there are no coincidences – everything is a part of God’s plan!  But, let me share a truly intriguing fact with you:  I was named after my dad.  That, in itself, is not a big deal.  However, consider this:  Most parents name their oldest son after Dad – but I was the sixth of six boys!  In fact, there was an eleven year gap between me and my youngest brother!

What does all of this mean?  I don’t know, maybe nothing!  But, I do know this – – God’s Good News is that names are important, and we should strive diligently to live up to the meaning of the name we have been Blessed with!