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Enjoy a sample devotion from Don Ankenbrandt’s new book, Your True Reflection, Trade in What You See for What God Sees.
Sample Devotion- “You Have A New Name”
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.— Revelation 2:17 (ESV)
The Greek word for “name” is ὄνομα (onoma), which means the revelation of someone’s character that distinguishes them from all others. A name is inseparable from the person to whom it belongs; it is something of a person’s essence and identity.
Take a second and go back and re-read this verse, because it says something extremely profound about you. Consider your name for a moment. What does it mean and what does it do? It is supposed to give you an identity that distinguishes you from everyone else. But what if your name is Mary White or John Smith? There have been possibly millions of Mary Whites or John Smiths that have lived on this earth. My name is Donald Joseph Ankenbrandt, and to my knowledge, there are only three people who ever had that name: my father, myself, and my oldest son (known as DJ). Ever since I was a child, my parents told me what my name meant. Donald means “great”. So, my parents my whole life called me “Donald the Great.” My name gave me confidence and identity—that I was actually capable of doing great things because that is what my parents told me my entire life. It set my course in many ways.
Our name is a big part of who we are. It’s a part of our identity that we didn’t choose, but it shapes us nonetheless. So, when a name is changed, it’s significant. God loves to give people new names. When and why does that occur?
There are four times in the Bible where God gives someone a new name. The first is when He makes a covenant with Abram and Sarai. He promised them land and home, generations of children who would become God’s chosen people, and ultimately the redemption of mankind. To seal the promise, God calls them Abraham and Sarah. The second time is when God wrestled with their grandson, Jacob. God keeps His promise by making Jacob the father of His chosen people and names him Israel. The third time, Jesus calls Simon to be His disciple and when he is the first to understand that Jesus is the Messiah, he is given a new name. He changed Simon’s name to Cephas, which means Peter, because he would be the rock that Jesus would build His church on.
Mathew 16:16-18 (NASB):
“Simon Peter answered, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus said to him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”
What is the common theme of a name change in scripture? Names are changed when someone comes to the place where they lay down their lives, wrestle with God, and recognize Him as the way, the truth, and the life and thus surrender their will to follow Him. That is when God is so moved by your surrender to Him that He grants you a new name.
So, what’s the fourth time? The only other person mentioned in the Bible who receives a new name from God is YOU. You heard that right. For those who follow Jesus, much like Peter, God has a specific name picked out for you.
There’s a special intimacy that comes from naming someone. When parents name a child, it’s often done with a purpose. Whether they’re named after someone important, a family member, or because of the name’s meaning, a child’s name can place a purpose on their life. Many times, parents even choose a name that embodies the hopes and dreams they have for who their child will be. In some ways, the naming of a child is a way for parents to establish the relationship. By naming a child, it is like saying “you’re mine,” and “we belong together as a family.”
The power of the name is that it can also elicit an opinion from others. The world puts a lot of value on a person’s name. In the age of social media, a name is like a brand. People work to grow their influence online so they can fill a need for authority, celebrity, and even profit. It becomes easy to buy into the lie that you must build your name to be successful in this life.
Names can also be a reminder of pain or hurt. For many people, they believe their own name carries a certain amount of shame because of their past. But for those who are in Christ, God promises us a new name. No matter how great or how shameful, no matter the success or hurt associated with your current name, you will be called by a unique name that God has specifically chosen for you.
So, take a second and think about this. You are so important to God, that when you meet him face to face, He will reward you with a white stone with your new name that only He and you will ever know. When that name is called, it will be you, not Mary White number 8,232,879, but the new name that only you and God will know. That will be your new identity—your own, personal and intimate identity given to you by God Himself. I think that is amazing and hopefully will bring you great hope and value in who you are to the Lord of all creation.
Ephesians 3:13-15 (NASB) says: “Therefore I ask you not to become discouraged about my tribulations in your behalf, since they are your glory. For this reason I bend my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name . . .”
Revelation 3:5 (NASB) tops it off: “The one who overcomes will be clothed the same way, in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”
For a Deeper Dive:
Genesis 2:20, Genesis 17:1–27, Genesis, 32:22–32, John 1:35–42, 1 Corinthians 5:4, 1 Corinthians 6:11, Ephesians 1:21, Revelation 3:8, 1 Peter 4:16
To learn more about Your True Reflection and to purchase your copy of the book and study guide, visit www.alliance-ministries.com. Click here to read more about the book.
Watch the video below to learn why “You Have a New Name” is Don Ankenbrandt’s favorite devotional in Your True Reflection.
