What's In a Name?

By George Lawson

What's in a name? Well, it depends on what you mean by that.
 
Shakespeare said, “That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

But I’m talking about more than the title by which we refer to something or someone.  When Paul said “whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,” he meant much more than simply doing everything while pronouncing the word “Jesus”.  There is something much more profound in Colossians 3:17.

To do all in the name of the Lord Jesus means we are to do all things…

1. In Association with Christ’s Person
2. By the Approval of Christ’s Authority
3. By the Assistance of Christ’s Power
4. In Agreement with Christ’s Character
5. And in Adoration of Christ’s Glory

As Christians, the name of the Lord Jesus should permeate everything about us.  Every word and action should be marked by the evidence of Christ’s power and presence in our lives.  There is no other name that is worthy of this kind of devotion.  Not only does this verse reveal the priority of Christ but it also points to His deity, because only God could demand this of us! 

Can you imagine doing everything you do in the name of fame, or in the name of fun, or in the name of fortune, or in the name of (dare we say it) ourselves?  No other name is worthy of dedicating your life to besides the name of the Lord Jesus.  He alone is worthy of this supreme place and may God forgive us for living for anything less.  

“What’s in a name?”  Well, if we’re talking about the name of Jesus the answer should be “everything!”