A Name with Meaning – May 31, 2026
One key truth: We bear the name of Christ.
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:16-20
A Name with Meaning
What’s your name? Or better question—what does your name mean? What comes to mind when people hear your name?
Maybe your name has a cool or sentimental meaning. Maybe your name has a meaning in a different language like Irene, Mira, or Amani—all of them mean “peace.” Maybe it was picked because it sounded strong, unique, or meaningful. Maybe you were named after someone important in your family. Or maybe your parents just thought, “Yep. That one sounds good.”
Whatever the reason, your name matters.
Your name is more than just what teachers call you during class. It’s tied to your identity and who you are. People connect your name with your personality, your reputation, the things you do, and what you’re known for. Some names instantly make you think of something:
- Taylor Swift = music
- Tom Brady = football
- Simone Biles = gymnastics
A name carries meaning. And if you’ve been baptized, there is one name that matters even more than the one on your birth certificate: Christian.
When you were baptized, you were marked with the sign of the cross and you were baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. In that moment:
- the Father declared you to be his child,
- the Son’s work was applied to you, and
- the Spirit filled your heart to believe it all by faith.
You still have your own name. But now you carry another one too: Christian. And that name comes with everything Jesus has done. His reputation? Yours. His accomplishments? Yours. His victory over sin and death? Yours. His future? Yours.
Rejoice in the name that God has given, and then go out in joy and make disciples of all nations, that they might carry that name, too!
Prayer:
God, thank you for putting your triune name on me at my baptism. Now that I am a Christian, I am covered in the blood of Christ and his righteousness. Help me now live like Christ and glorify your name in all I do. Give me courage to share your saving name with others. Amen.
