It’s a Wonderful Name

Choosing a name….. I asked my Mum the other day why she had decided to call me Nicola. I knew why she had called my brother, Ian. She wanted a really short name that couldn’t be turned into a nickname. Ian would always be Ian. It so didn’t work because my family all called him “E” usually shouted at high volume in one long “Eeeeeeeeeeeeeee”.

My name, Nicola was just one of the names she happened to like. It didn’t have any specific meaning or significance for the family. My name gets shortened to a nickname all the time as you can imagine. I don’t think anyone calls me much by my full name anymore. It’s usually, Nic or Nikki.

Names give an impression and expectation but can get lost in translation. Our school ran an annual cultural exchange trip to France when you stayed with a local family who then returned to stayed with you. When I went I was the last kid left on the coach and I could see a bit of a kerfuffle outside amongst the teachers. It turned out that in France and much of Europe “Nicola” is a boy’s name and the poor family were expecting a boy. They weren’t prepared to receive a girl. Fortunately, there was also a sister, Fabienne, so she ended up being my exchange pal but her poor brother had to stay and wait another year. I was so what he wasn’t expecting by my name. What a disappointment to him but an unexpected gift to his sister.

There is a name that I have found never disappoints and it is Jesus Christ. When we choose to put out trust in that name it is life transforming, not only our present but also our future. The name of Jesus has power and authority.

Yesterday, as we celebrated Christmas our bible verses were:

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Jesus is given a lot of names and titles throughout the bible. Just in this one passage of scripture we read 5 of them. It made me think how I often overlook or “shorten” and don’t fully consider and understand the names given to Jesus, what it means for me as a believer now and the riches that are there waiting to be discovered in the names and character of Jesus. Getting to know more about Jesus through each facet revealed about Him in His names.

It’s something I’ll be delving into in the New Year to discover more about those names starting with “Wonderful” and sharing the riches of blessings in Christ our Lord.

Have a blessed day my friends.