What’s In A Name

Names are important. Ask any advertising executive. When you hear the name Coca Cola, Pepsi, Firestone, Goodyear, Chevy, Ford, Elvis, O.J. Simpson, etc., you know just how important names are. When I hear the word McDonald’s my mouth starts to water. Wendy’s makes me think of a tall cold “frosty” and we all know what happens when we’re thinking “Arby’s” — just watch any Arby’s commercial.

Names identify one person or one thing from another. We have named every insect, every plant, every bone, muscle and organ in the body. We have named or numbered every visible star and planet in the universe. We name tornadoes and hurricanes. We name boats and cars. We name everything.

Names are so necessary to everyday communication that when we don’t know or forget a name we create a substitute: whatchamacallit, thingamabob, doohickey, whosiwhatsit.

Even people who die without identification get a name by the coroner: Jane Doe or John Doe.

Only those who know our name can truly love and understand us. This is no less true of our relationship with God. Yet many of us don’t take the time to get to know and love God by becoming familiar with the many names He is known by.

Thus this website will be devoted to exploring the names of God. Stop by each week, starting April 1, 2007, to read about the “name of the week” or sign up for our email list to receive your devotion delivered by email.