Living up to a name.

Society puts a lot of emphasis on a name and tells a story about the character of a person, or even an organization. Recently, we had an opportunity to live up to our name Connecting Japan, by not only hosting Japanese in our home, but also spending time with them and sharing an amazing part of the Australian bush near our home. By showing them a part of God's creation and displaying hospitality, we have lived up to the name and it feels we are living out our purpose.

Similarly, God's word has a variety of names that He is known by to the reader. Lord, Yahweh, and more specific names declare who He is and how He interacts with His creation. The ultimate way He lived up to His name came in the form of Jesus (which means He saves), who lived among humanity, died for all of us and defeated death, when He came back to life, with a promise of His kingdom that will reach fulfillment.

While we won't have to live up to such a lofty purpose, as Christ followers, we have a name to live up to as well. By loving people and God, serving in whatever way He has directed us, we can show the world that we are more than what opinions say about us. Living a quiet testimony illuminating all Jesus had done in the past, we can help others find a future where we all are joined in harmony. Now that is a goal worth moving towards.