It’s all in a name
ISAIAH 65:15
In October, 2011, a deeply moving story was circulating in the press about a name-changing ceremony for girls in Mumbai, India. At birth the 285 girls had been named Nakusa or Nakushi, which means Unwanted in the primary Indian language of Hindi. The name Unwanted is widely given to girls across India where families often value sons much more than daughters. As a result, female babies have been aborted or neglected at an alarming rate.
But the renaming ceremony was an attempt to give the girls a new identity. The article reported, “The 285 girls—wearing their best outfits with barrettes, braids and bows in their hair—lined up to receive certificates with their new names along with small flower bouquets.” Some of the girls chose new names that mean prosperous, beautiful, good, or even “very tough.” One girl who had been named Nakusa by her grandfather who was disappointed in her birth said, “Now in school, my classmates and friends will be calling me by this new name, and that makes me very happy.”
This powerful and delightful story pales into insignificance with the identity change that Jesus Christ brings to people who put their trust in Him. those who reject Jesus, their names are cursed. But for those of us who may have been cursed by man but who accept Christ receive new identities and new names in God’s sight. We have a new beginning!
Today, you are more than what others call you. You are what He calls you which is always loved.
Missions Paul 