Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

April 3
Thursday


WHAT'S
IN A NAME?

READ:
John 1:35-42
______________________________________________________________________________

You are Peter, and
on this rock I will build
My church.
__Matthew 16:18
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My friend wrote a letter to his newborn child that he wanted him to read when he was older: "My dear boy, Daddy and Mummy wish that you will find and stay focused on the Light. Your Chinese name is Xin Xuan. Xin means faithfulness, contentment,and integrity; xuan stands for warmth and light." He and his wife carefully chose a name based on their hopes for their baby boy.

When Jesus renamed Simon as Peter/Cephas (John 1:42), it wasn't a random choice. Peeter means "the rock." But it took a while for him to live up to his new name. The account of his life reveals him as a fisherman known for his rash ways__a shifting-sand kind of guy. Peter disagreed with Jesus (Matt. 16:22-23), struck a man with a sword (John 18:10-11), and even denied knowing Jesus (John 18:15-27). But in Acts, we read that God worked in and through him to establish His church. Peter truly became a rock.

If you, like Peter, are a follower of Jesus, you have a new identity. In Acts 11:26, we read, "The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch." The name "Christians" means "Christ-ones." You now are one of the Christ-ones. This title lifts up who you are and calls you to become what you are not yet. god is faithful, and He will complete His good work in you (Phil. :6). __Poh Fang Chia

``````````````````Dear Father, thank You for the incredible privilege````````````````````
````````````````````of being called Your child. May we understand`````````````````````
````````````````more fully what it means to be identified with Your`````````````````````
`````````````````````Son, Jesus Christ. Work in us an through us.``````````````````````
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We honor God's name when we call Him our Father
and live like His children.

*************************today's Bible Reading __ John 1:35-42************************

35 Again, the next day,
John stood with two of his
disciples. 36 And looking at
Jesus as He walked, he said,
"Behold the Lamb of God!"

37 The two disciples heard
him speak, and they
followed Jesus. 38 Then
Jesus turned, and seeing
them following, said to
them, "What do you seek?"
They said to him, "Rabbi"
(which isto say, when
translated, Teacher), "Where
are Yous taying?"

39 He said to them, "Come
and see."

They cae and saw whee
He was staying , and
remained with Him that day
(now it was about the tenth
hour).

40 One of the two who
heard John speak, and
followed Him, was Andrew,
Simon Peter's brother. 41 he
first found his won brother
Simon, and said to him,
"we have found the
Messiah" (which is
translated, the Christ).

42 And he brought him to
Jesus.

Now when Jesus looked at
hm, He said, "You are
Simon the don of jonah.
You shall be called Cephas"
(which is translated, A
Stone).

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Today's reading records a call to discipleship. After John the Baptist
identified Jesus as the "Lamb of God," two of his disciples followed
Jesus. Andrew is named, but the second spiritual seeker is not. Many
commentators believe that the apostle John is the second disciple.
Notice the easy conversation which takes place between the two
disciples and Christ. He asks what they seek. They inquire about where
He is staying, and He invites them to come and see. The tenth hour by
Jewish reckoning was 4:00 p.m. Obviously, the day was coming to an
end. Andrew became so excited about Jesus' invitation that he went to
find his brother Simon and brought him to meet the Master.