Spiritual Measles

When I was a child, one of the most effective ways my Mom had of bringing me back to right behavior was by addressing my name. When I was being petulant or selfish, she would announce slowly and with wonderment, “That doesn’t sound like MY Anita Hope.” I deeply felt her disappointment in me. Immediately I would be overwhelmed by the desire to live out the good that my Mom saw in my name and thus in me.

I have been thinking about names a lot this week. It began with a devotional reading by Oswald Chambers. Then my son sent me research on my name. And so I began to dig into the Scripture.

Names seem of importance to our Lord. Often he changed people’s names to signify spiritual covenants with or promises for his imperfect children. In the Old Testament, Abram (father) became Abraham (father of many) when God promised him fatherhood of a nation. Sarai (barren) likewise became Sarah (mother of nations). Jacob became Israel after an encounter with God. Jesus renamed Simon; he called him Peter, the rock. Saul, the persecutor became Apostle Paul.

Chambers says, “God writes the new name on those places only in our lives where He has erased pride, self-sufficiency and self-interest.” Chambers says that some of us thus have spiritual measles. “The disciple is one who has the new name written all over him” (My Utmost for His Highest June 12). Chambers believes we can have pride as a “publican” as well as a Pharisee. The Pharisee pridefully thought he was better than others and thus did not repent. The publican acknowledged his sin and thus received God’s favor. But Chambers warns us not to give vent to our hopelessness as “publicans” that takes us outside the atonement rather than leading us to repentance. We are not to remain in our miserable state. We must believe in the name God has given us.

As I read Chambers’ warning, almost without thinking, I prayed, “Lord Jesus help me to live out the name you gave me through my mother: Anita Hope. Write Hope all over me: Hope that you are working in me. Hope that you can minister to others though me. Hope that the plans you have for our family and each of my children will be accomplished. Hope that you will walk with me even through the valley of the shadow of death.”

My son tells me that my first name has even more promise in its meaning. It is related by derivation to Anna, or Hannah, meaning “grace” or “favor.” Two favorite Bible characters have this name. One is Samuel’s mother who prayed for a son with a promise to give him to God. I gave all my children to God, although not in the final way Hannah did. I always admired her for that and knew that in my own strength I could never walk away from my young son and leave him in Eli’s care. But what a powerful man Samuel became for God. St. Luke tells of the widow Anna who “never left the temple, but worshipped night and day with fasting and prayer”(LK 2:37). In her old age, Anna was empowered to prophesy regarding the Christchild. As a young girl I marveled that she was able to honor God so totally and even now I find her remarkable. Both these women were favored or graced by God. They lived out their names.

Rather than being a Christian with spiritual measles, I aspire to live a life with the name God has given me written all over it. What name has God given you?