Have you ever thought about the significance of being called by God’s name?

A song lyric based on 2 Chronicles 7:14 got my wheels turning a few weeks ago. In the Old Testament, God’s chosen people were the Israelites. God’s name was actually imbedded in the Hebrew word for Israel. More obviously, today Christians are likewise named after Christ.

This seems like a small thing to ponder, but it’s not. It is everything. A perfect, holy God who has existed for eternity has chosen to bring sinners near through the blood of Christ. The Bible speaks of Christians as His children, having been adopted into His family, His Kingdom. He claims us as His own.

Our family’s recent adoption has been a precious reminder of what it means to be a child of God, to be called by His Name. Below I will list a few of the beautiful implications.

1. Unlimited access. A child has unlimited access to their parent. Once unworthy, children of wrath and unfit for God’s presence, Christians can approach the throne of grace after receiving salvation. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb 4:16)
2. Equal inheritance. Part of our adoption paperwork stated that, in the event of our death, our adopted child would have precisely the same inheritance as any biological children. Romans 8:17 says we are “co-heirs with Christ”. What! That is incredible. Ephesians 3:20 says “He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ”. At the time, sons were the only children who received an inheritance. Praise God, His Kingdom is for both male & female!
3. Security. We did nothing to earn our position as God’s child, and there is nothing we can do to lose it. Romans 8:38-39 describe a closeness, a union like none other. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
4. Fearlessness. After a recent study on Biblical wisdom, I was overwhelmed by my lack thereof. Then, God brought to mind a sweet illustration. Like a small child crossing the road with his dad, we need not fear or be anxious about a lack of wisdom. There is indeed so much that we do not understand, but we hold the hand of the One who holds everything together by his powerful word. (Heb 1:3) We have nothing to fear!!

What an incredible blessing to be able to think about these things!

Feel free to comment with other privileges that come with being “called by His name.” My brain is still turning too.

Thanks for reading! 🙂

Ashley