Lenten Devotions March 22nd

March 23, 2010

Whose Name?

Excerpt from Psalm 20

"Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses, but our pride is in the name of the Lord our God."

Reflection by Quinn G. Caldwell

Psalm 20 is a prayer for victory over one's enemies in war. I understand that on the surface, that may not seem to have much import for your daily life. At least, I hope it doesn't; if you have enough enemies that you need to pray this prayer, I feel bad for you.

But, even if you're not leading an army into battle today, there's a question from this Psalm worth asking: do you take pride in God's name?

At our baptism, we are formally adopted into the family of Jesus Christ, and we take on his name. Like one half of a couple taking the other half's name when they get married, like a new baby taking on her parents' name, at baptism, you take on the name of God, which for us is "Christ" But how many people who know you would, if asked to name you, describe you with that name as readily as your first and last names? If the answer is "Not many," then may I suggest it may be because you don't introduce yourself that way as often as you might?

Now look, I don't go around to cocktail parties shaking hands and saying, "Hi! I'm Quinn Caldwell, Christian," and I don't think you should, either. I'm just asking how many people know whose name you bear besides your own.

Prayer

God, save me from being one of those annoying people who refer to themselves as "Christian" every third word. But grant that I might find ways to introduce myself using your name just a little more often. Amen.