NAME CHANGE
Abram gets a name change, and Sarai was about to get one too. In their culture, a name was more than a familial tag of identification – often a person’s name spoke about their character. But in Abram’s case, his name change didn’t only signify he was moving into a new season of life: his name would be a constant reminder of God’s promise. ‘Abraham’ means ‘father of a multitude’. This meant that, every time Abraham was addressed, it would serve as a reminder of the goodness and greatness of God. Perhaps 50 times a day, he would hear the promise reiterated back to him, as he interacted with others in his everyday life.
I forget the truth all the time. I need to immerse myself daily in Scripture, because it reaffirms who God is, what life is for, how to live, what the future ultimately holds. It’s all there in Scripture.
Gerald Coates was once told that Christians are brainwashed. Famous for his quick retorts, he responded – ‘That’s right – at least we Christians know what we are washing our brains in – how about you?’ In a world of confusing and contradictory messages, let’s be committed and disciplined to feed on the truth of Scripture. That will help us to remember who God is, and who we are and whose we are in Christ.