What’s in a Name?
My wife and I belong to our town-sponsored fitness center. Several years past, there was a friendly older gentleman named Ray who also attended. If he was there when we went, he’d always be smiling from ear to ear; and when he wasn’t exercising on one of the pieces of equipment, he’d be greeting someone by their first name. We’re convinced if there was a “mayoral election” at the gym back then, Ray would have gotten all the votes.
In my earlier years in business, there were two very successful people who I was privileged to know and at some point informally interviewed about the secret to their success. One was Sue Wong, who owned a Chinese Restaurant called the Cathay Temple. The other was Manny Gomes, who owned Manny’s Gas and Service Station. Both told me the same thing. It wasn’t about what seemed most obvious — the best Chinese food or the highest octane gas: it was about a working relationship with people and purposefully calling them by name.
These examples serve as evidence of the influence and success in the “bothering” to know someone by name. A book by Franklin Graham, entitled, “The Name,” brings this concept and process to the greatest focus. The name he talks about in his book is Jesus Christ — the one name that is the lightning rod because it represents the division of life between good and evil, God and Satan, light and darkness, righteousness and sin, and heaven and hell.
Isn’t it amazing how so many people these days are quick to dismiss, defame, or take the name of Jesus Christ in vain? Sadly, it’s bordering on the politically correct thing to do. Before we join those ranks and the eternal consequences associated with such foolishness, we need to know what God’s word says. The Bible says there is no other name for us to rely upon to be saved, that we should pray to the Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus, and one day every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God, the Father.
So what’s in a name? If we’re referring to the real Jesus Christ, the anointed One and Son of the Living God, then it’s the name that profoundly transcends earthly elections or business success. It’s the name that simply means everything!
Friends, with the National Day of Prayer soon approaching (Thursday, May 1, 2025) may we share this short closing prayer: Dear Father in Heaven, may we bring honor to You and bring glory to Your name by the way we conduct every aspect of our lifestyle. To You and to You alone we pray, in the matchless name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen!
Steven J, Bouley, Fairhaven
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Click here to download the 4/17/25 issue: 04-17-25 FlashlightEggHunt
Click here to download Patrick Carr’s COI document: PatricCarrCOI_4-14-25
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