Every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. Isaiah 43:7
When you get older, you begin to remember (and quote) sayings that our parents or grandparents have said to us. I have often over the years, recalled phrases that my Granny used to say while growing up. Although there were many, this particular one always stood out, “The Layne name stands for something and you should never bring shame to your name.” She told me, “The Layne's are a proud and prosperous family, pillars of the community, known and respected by many.” So, it would stand to reason that she would be concerned about the content of the character of her children, grandchildren, and the next generation of her family. That phrase has stayed with me even as an adult and I always felt the need to live up to the name’s reputation.
As I begin to read and study this passage in Isaiah years ago, I remember hearing “you are called by My name.” I love this verse, it serves as a reminder that I am called by His name, created solely for the purpose of His glory. He formed me and made me just for Him. What a wonderful revelation to infuse with what is embedded in us as children. That resonated in my spirit and I begin to realize even though the Layne name is my birth name, and proud of course to be called by that name, it does not compare to my “new birth” name. The name that I have been called to bear witness to and the Name that is essentially above every name, Jesus. His Name is the name that stands for everything, in all things, and by all things and certainly, I don’t want to bring shame nor taint the reputation of that Name.
When we profess to be called by His name, we are professing to bear witness in our lives daily. We can reverence His name or disrespect His name with our conduct, our actions and even our words; the Name that we bear witness to is a Name that we should never allow to be ill spoken of by something we've said or done. There should be a quality of character that comes with our witness since we are to be example to the world, the epistle read of men (2 Cor 3:1-3); proudly acting accordingly. In a world with all of its naysayers and cynics that are lying in wait to give report on how we are all just hypocrites; how we are faking and shaking because we don’t live the life we profess and that there is nothing to us, based on what they see. Sadly enough, it’s in our actions and our presentation sometime that bring shame to the Name by which we say we've been called. The verse states, we were made for His glory, so for sure, it’s definitely not about us.
We live in a time of a Godless society, everybody is “spiritual” or too far right or left religious, worshiping other gods, idolatry and sin is running rampant; just an anything goes society ... reminding me of the children of Israel. Yet, God was always there for them, waiting and continuing to love them but they had their own agenda. Sound familiar? We are modern day Israelites, just as stubborn and as hardheaded as they were. The difference is that we possess a power that they did not. God has sent His Spirit to rest, rule and abide in us; He can and will keep us, guide us, and lead us, just to name a few, and keeps our character in check, if we let Him.
Let’s be concerned about the content of our character for this generation, for this dispensation; remaining steadfast in our witness and holding firmly to the Word of God; being a living epistle so that others will see and desire to know about the God we love and serve. Always remembering to uphold this Him, our Father, in all we say and do because we have been called by His name and made for His glory!
Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde
When you get older, you begin to remember (and quote) sayings that our parents or grandparents have said to us. I have often over the years, recalled phrases that my Granny used to say while growing up. Although there were many, this particular one always stood out, “The Layne name stands for something and you should never bring shame to your name.” She told me, “The Layne's are a proud and prosperous family, pillars of the community, known and respected by many.” So, it would stand to reason that she would be concerned about the content of the character of her children, grandchildren, and the next generation of her family. That phrase has stayed with me even as an adult and I always felt the need to live up to the name’s reputation.
As I begin to read and study this passage in Isaiah years ago, I remember hearing “you are called by My name.” I love this verse, it serves as a reminder that I am called by His name, created solely for the purpose of His glory. He formed me and made me just for Him. What a wonderful revelation to infuse with what is embedded in us as children. That resonated in my spirit and I begin to realize even though the Layne name is my birth name, and proud of course to be called by that name, it does not compare to my “new birth” name. The name that I have been called to bear witness to and the Name that is essentially above every name, Jesus. His Name is the name that stands for everything, in all things, and by all things and certainly, I don’t want to bring shame nor taint the reputation of that Name.
When we profess to be called by His name, we are professing to bear witness in our lives daily. We can reverence His name or disrespect His name with our conduct, our actions and even our words; the Name that we bear witness to is a Name that we should never allow to be ill spoken of by something we've said or done. There should be a quality of character that comes with our witness since we are to be example to the world, the epistle read of men (2 Cor 3:1-3); proudly acting accordingly. In a world with all of its naysayers and cynics that are lying in wait to give report on how we are all just hypocrites; how we are faking and shaking because we don’t live the life we profess and that there is nothing to us, based on what they see. Sadly enough, it’s in our actions and our presentation sometime that bring shame to the Name by which we say we've been called. The verse states, we were made for His glory, so for sure, it’s definitely not about us.
We live in a time of a Godless society, everybody is “spiritual” or too far right or left religious, worshiping other gods, idolatry and sin is running rampant; just an anything goes society ... reminding me of the children of Israel. Yet, God was always there for them, waiting and continuing to love them but they had their own agenda. Sound familiar? We are modern day Israelites, just as stubborn and as hardheaded as they were. The difference is that we possess a power that they did not. God has sent His Spirit to rest, rule and abide in us; He can and will keep us, guide us, and lead us, just to name a few, and keeps our character in check, if we let Him.
Let’s be concerned about the content of our character for this generation, for this dispensation; remaining steadfast in our witness and holding firmly to the Word of God; being a living epistle so that others will see and desire to know about the God we love and serve. Always remembering to uphold this Him, our Father, in all we say and do because we have been called by His name and made for His glory!
Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde
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