What's
in a Name?
“Because they have not followed me wholeheartedly, not one of the men twenty
years old or more who came up out of Egypt will see the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob- not one except
Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they followed the LORD wholeheartedly.”
~Numbers 32:11-12 (NIV)
Today I continue
with the “Celebration of Life” series. I’ll begin where I left off.
June 24th, 1978 ~ The day my parents got married.
June 14th, 1979 ~ The day I was born.
To read more about these events and the beginning of my life, you can go to the devotional
titled “Wonderfully Made.” God wants us to celebrate every moment and that is why I’m taking the time
to go back over the moments I’ve been given in the last 30 years. Another great moment for me came on July 17th,
1980, the day my brother Caleb Ray Lindberg was born. True, I don’t remember much about that day, but I do remember
many moments since that day which involve my brother.
One of the greatest gifts my parents gave myself and my siblings was our names. My mom entrusted my dad to
pray and be led by God on how to name us. My dad came up with our first names through prayer. Then my mom helped
my dad with the middle names. Our names are strong and fit each one of us so well. I remember growing up with
plaques on the wall that displayed each one of our names and their meaning. I was so proud of my name and how my parents
picked it out for me. I look at my brother Caleb and I feel the same way about him.
He is a strong man and this verse above, clearly describes his heart.
He does everything wholeheartedly. In fact, when you take the time to look up the meaning of his name, you will find
that his name means “faithful, bold, devotion to God.” Caleb never does anything half way. He is determined,
he is strong, he has my mom’s love for people, my dad’s tenacity for life, he loves his siblings, he is a loving
husband to Stacy, and a wonderful father to his son Isaac. I had the privilege to watch him as a little boy as he would
run up to the altar whenever there was an altar call. He is always willing to help someone who is in need.
I truly believe that my parents helped my brother become
the best man he could be in life. They poured in to him love and nurtured him. They showed him the qualities and
characteristics he would need, to be the best man he could be in the world he would face.
So what’s in a name? Well, many times in the Bible God changed
someone’s name to reflect the character that was inside of them. Here are some examples:
“No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham,
for I have made you a father of many nations.” ~ Genesis 17:5 (NIV)
God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are
no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I
will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.” ~ Genesis 17:15-16
(NIV)
And he brought him
to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas”
(which, when translated, is Peter). ~ John 1:42 (NIV)
Living
to Glorify My Father in Heaven,
Sarah
