I Have Called You by Name

Angel Gabriel knew it. The prophets of long ago also knew it.

When God was ready to redeem His people, the name He chose for this Savior was incredibly important. So God sent Gabriel to Joseph and told him all the details he needed to know and then told him what he was to name this special child. “She (Mary) will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus because He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)

This fulfilled what the prophets had foretold: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel (which means, “God with us").

The angel knew it. The prophets knew it. What you name a child is important.

Names and their meanings still matter today. Here’s the story of how I found a way to show children how they can be like Jesus simply by celebrating and living out the name they have been given.

It was 7:30 PM and the kids had been whisked off to brush their teeth, change into their jammies and gather in their bedroom. When I stepped into the room, Lucy was stretched out on the top bunk. Curled up with an enormous stuffed unicorn, Annie occupied the bottom bunk. Charles, resting on his new pillow covered with flying dragons, relaxed on the mattress he was temporarily using while his grandpa and I were visiting. Sitting on the floor, our son, their dad, sat with guitar in hand, strumming and starting to sing.

“Grandma,” Lucy called to me. “Listen to our song. We’re in each verse!”

Curious, I sat down and listened as all three kids sang the first verse of Be Thou My Vision with their dad.

Be Thou my vision, Oh Lord of my heart

Naught be all else to me save that Thou art.

Thou my best thought by day or by night

Waking or sleeping, Thy Presence my light.

“That’s my verse!” Lucy proudly proclaimed.

And yes, indeed, I could see why.

You see, when our son and daughter-in-law, Joel and Rachel, named their children, they picked names with special meanings. Lucy means light bearer. Can you see why she sees herself in that verse?

Lucy, nine years old, has always known that her name means light. Her parents have often prayed and thanked God for the light she is and has been to those around her. She is kind-hearted and gentle, desires to please, and works hard to do the right thing. Like light, she brightens up a room with her charming smile, thick strawberry blond hair, and fearless ability to ask good questions.

We all want our children to know and love Jesus. But we also want them to know how to BE Jesus in the world. That feels harder because the action reveals what is in the heart. But this is one way for Lucy’s parents to help her grow to understand how to bring Jesus into her world. In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus taught his disciples saying, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

When her parents see Lucy being kind, forgiving, or encouraging to a friend, they can gently point out that she is being light. They might think to add that Jesus treated people this way also.

Joel and Rachel with their four children have lived in Costa Rica for five years and work with a ministry that serves college students throughout the country. During this time, many students have said yes to Jesus and have learned to read and study the Bible. They mentor other young people as they mature in what it means to love and be loved by Christ.

They are light bearers also, bringing the light of Jesus and the hope of a transformed life to students who, so far, have not had the chance to know about His love for them.

Lucy’s family is modeling what it looks like to be a light in their world. And when she is able to show that gentle light to her friends, her parents are there to point out how Jesus is living and moving in her.

Why do we name?

Why is it important to carefully choose each child’s name? And what effect does that name have on them? What more can we do to point our children to Jesus and encourage them to reach out like Him to the kids at school, in the neighborhood, in their sports clubs, and in their own homes?

Like Lucy’s parents, Andrew Peterson likes to name things. In his book, The God of the Garden, Peterson writes, “Could it be that by naming something, by making it particular, we’re making it holy?”

This is what God did when He created the world. He named everything first. Genesis tells us that He called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” He designated the vault “sky,” the dry ground “land” and the gathered waters He called “seas.” After creating vegetation, the sun, the moon, the stars, the water creatures, the birds, and the land creatures, He then fashioned a man. After proclaiming that everything He created was very good, He stopped working and rested.

Following the abundant act of creation, God passed the job of naming the animals on to Adam.

Genesis 2:19 “He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.”

Our son names things. Yes, he is a “son of Adam” so he comes by it naturally, I suppose. You might ask him about Paul and Martha, the Mot Mot birds who live in trees in their back yard, or the Flycatcher they named Aslan. We knew a squirrel called Eddie for years, and there are some pigeons now known as June One and June Two. Our little tree that survived a near-death experience, was named Hero. Many gigantic trees in his life have names that only he knows. Naming creatures and trees is his whimsical way to remember them.

But Joel and Rachel chose their children’s names for earnest and specific reasons.

Charles’ middle name, Chesley, means a safe harbor. So when he sees a friend crying at basketball practice, he can show kindness by asking if he’s OK. Charles offers himself as a safe place for that boy. Jesus offered safety also when He told the crowd, “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 12:28) Charles is catching a vision of who Jesus is and how he, himself, can offer the same kindness to his friend.

 Annie Pearl’s middle name means treasure. Jesus spoke often about treasures, but Paul wrote in Colossians 2:3 that “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ.” When Annie sees herself as a treasure and begins to equate that with how much she is loved by God, wisdom and faith will grow in her precious little heart.

And their little sister, Elsie Eve? Her name means abundance. The family felt overwhelming and abundant love as they welcomed their fourth child into their midst. Jesus told us, “I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10) Elsie has a bubbly outgoing personality. You might call it an abundant personality. She is being shaped into a well-loved and treasured child who knows where she stands and who she is in the kingdom of God.

Each of these names is helping to shape the character of these children. In their lives, the meaning of their names has become part of their identity. It’s a focus, like a lighthouse, guiding their lives.

Identity. Belonging. Vision. Shaping.

Naming is important and holy work.

How do we do this kind of naming?

There are many books or sites that tell us the meaning of names. By searching and using our understanding of scripture, a vision for any name can be formed.

For example, the name Rachel means “ewe,” which is a female sheep. John 10:3 tells us that Jesus taught about sheep and shepherds. “He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out…and the sheep follow Him because they know His voice.” Parents could encourage Rachel because Jesus knows her name and loves her. She can listen to Jesus and follow Him.

Being offered to the child as a wonder and a privilege, the meanings of names should always be used as encouragement and not as manipulation or management of a child’s behavior. We can offer delight when we discover times when Jesus shines through our child’s actions.

God knew we could know Him better by knowing His name.

God knows the power in a name because He Himself is the Ultimate Namer. He named Himself I AM and proclaimed Himself as the one and only self-existent One. Through His many names, we have come to know and love Him as the Name above all Names and worthy to be praised.

He, in turn, shows His belief in naming by proclaiming in Isaiah 43:1. Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.

God calls us His beloved. We need no other name than that. He is our light. He is our safe place. He is our treasure. And in Him, life is abundant.

These children are blessed to be named God’s children. I pray they will grow strong in the gentleness of their names as they reflect the love and kindness found in His name.

Jesus did indeed come to walk among the people, show them the mighty acts of God, and save them from their sins. The vision cast by His name was intense and powerful and He changed the world forever. Let’s name our kids in ways that can cast a vision of qualities we hope to see in them as they learn to love Jesus and desire to make Him known among the people in their circle of influence.