Name Calling

                       “But now, this is what the Lord says – he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel; Fear not, for I have redeemed  you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” 

Isaiah 43:1 (NIV) 

    Even though the names were spoken quietly, they were intentionally spoken in a stage whisper so that I could hear them: “Olive Oil – that’s who she looks like! Nancy is Popeye’s girlfriend!” they said, and the giggling followed me as I hung my head and hurried down the hall and away from the name-calling.  

    No one was more aware than I that my 5’-8”, 80-pound frame as an 8th-grade student stood out in a crowd. But I also knew that I was built like my parents, so there wasn’t much that I could do to change how I looked. That didn’t cancel out the hurt from the names I was called; it just made me wish that my tall, slender parents were, well, shorter and heavier.

   How about you? Have you ever been called names? Let’s see…geek, nerd, fatty, ugly, worthless. Sure, who hasn’t been labeled with a hurtful name…but here’s the question: did you believe the name you were called? Do you believe it now?

   Can I share my thinking on this with you? I refuse to let someone else’s attitude determine mine. People can call me names all they want, but I know what my Jesus calls me.

   I am God’s child. (John 1:12)

   I am a friend of Jesus. (John 15:15)

   I am a citizen of heaven. (Philippians 3:20)

   I am adopted as His child. (Ephesians 1:5) 

   I am an heir with Christ. (Galatians 4:7)

And if that’s not enough, let me share one more Scripture. Isaiah 49:16 says this: “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.” Somehow, I do not see “Nancy aka Olive Oil” engraved on the hands of the Creator of the Universe. And I am quite certain that you won’t find “Lori Loser” or “Frances Fatty” or “Wendy Worthless” there either. 

   The only name-calling that I care about – the only name-calling that matters – is the name my Father calls me, as His child. 

   Father, I love that I am your child, created in your image. Thank you for loving me and for calling me by name as your princess. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. 

R.A.P. it up . . . 

Reflect

• What are some of the hurtful names that you have been called?

• Did you take them to heart and believe that they fit who you were?

Apply

• Make a list of the hurtful names that you have been called.

• Beside each one, write down a name that the Lord has called you, along with the Scripture reference. 

Power 

• Isaiah 43:2 (NIV) “But now, this is what the Lord says – he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel; Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”

• Romans 8:17 (NIV) “Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ…” 

• Isaiah 49:16 (NIV) “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.”