Stewardship is . . . a Name Thing.

“(Jesus) is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 8:11-12).

It is a great privilege to name someone. Parents think long and hard before naming their child. Names are very important. Names are who we are and whose we are.

Every once in a while you will hear about a person wanting to change their name, because they do not like it. Sometimes a person will change their name in hope of changing their identity. Some people pay big money to have their name and identity changed. No doubt about it, a name is an important thing.

Throughout the Old Testament, the putting on of a name meant claiming. When God put His name on the children of Israel, He claimed them. He made them His.

In the Bible reading from Acts we come across the name of Jesus. The name of Jesus, we are told, is the only name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.

As Christians we can be assured that we do have Jesus’ name put on us, because His name was put on us at our Baptism. At our Baptism Jesus put His name on us, He put faith in our hearts, He gives us forgiveness of sins, and with forgiveness come life and salvation.

Our stewardship, in a very real way, shows who we are and whose we are. Our stewardship reveals if God’s name is on us, or if something, or someone else has claim over us. Our Bible tells us that we cannot serve God and mammon. What does your stewardship reveal about whose name is on you and whose you are?

Rest assured, as Christians we do not always live up to the name that we wear. We sin, daily, and deserve nothing but punishment. Praise the Lord that Jesus died for our forgiveness. Praise the Lord that Jesus’ name is on us. Praise the Lord that He stirs in our hearts to be the good stewards He would have us to be. To God be the glory.

29 of 52 © Rev. Ronald A. Bogs