March 11th, 2021: Our New Name?

 Peter, the Rock and Cornerstone of Christ's Church | Where Peter Is

It is exciting and challenging for expecting parents is to come up with the name for their baby. Baby-names tend to have their time as well. Some of them might be common in the past, and we hardly see them today. Some names reflect the cultural heritage of the parents. Some names are there because they current with what is going on in the world. Some of them we have no ideas how they came about.


We all have nicknames, and they tend to be used by people who are dear to us. Husbands and wives have unique names for one another. Parents have endearing names for their kids. The Bible also tells us that God has given us new names for us when we come to know Him.


God changed Abram's name (high father) to Abraham (father of a multitude). He also changed Sarai's name (my princess) to Sarah (mother of nations). Jesus changed Simon's name to Peter (Cephas, means the rock) after Simon declared that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. That was his intention for Peter's ministry. We can go on to mention many other records of God changed people's names.


Sometimes I wonder what name would reflect my relationship with God? Peter is my Catholic name at birth. I identify with him someway. I claim to believe, and yet I know that I have doubted. I seek the needed restoration daily because I know I can lose my way. I am excited about what God is doing in the world today although I don't fully understand. I long to be the rock (Petros) that Jesus was talking to Peter about. I need to be shaped and molded by God. That is how my life can be used as a reliable piece of rock. One that God can use as a part of the foundation of His church.


Matthew 16: 18-19

"And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

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