What's in a Name?

Babysitting is one of my favorite things to do. I love how genuine kids are. They aren't big on false compliments, but they love so easily. I love all the hugs and the various pronunciations of my name (Sheshka, Dekka, Sessica...). They're just so cute and so funny! It's true that kids say the darndest things. A few weeks ago, one four year old buddy of mine asked me who he was. I said his name. He said no. I then said something along the lines of, "You are a man of God with great potential. You are a sweet and wonderful little boy." He smiled and shook his head. Knowing him as I do, I soon correctly guessed that he was pretending to be Alex the lion.

What this little boy couldn't grasp at four years of age was that my statement about him was more true than his notion that he was Alex the lion. He also couldn't understand how much greater what I said was than what he said about himself. How often do we do that with what God speaks over us? God speaks truth and life. He calls us the apple of his eye (Deut. 32:10, Psalm 17:8, Zech. 2:8). He says that we are his beloved (Jer. 11:15, Col. 3:12). He calls us his friends (John 15:15) and brothers (Heb. 2:11). He says that we have a future (Jer. 29:11) and a purpose (Rom. 12:4-8, 1 Cor. 12, Eph. 2:10, 2 Cor. 5:5) and that he chose us (1 Thess. 1:4). What in the world are we thinking to throw away the awesome truth that God speaks over us in favor of inferior lies??? When you say that you're not good enough in whatever way... looks, talent, personality... you're ignoring what God says about you. He made you exactly as you are for a purpose! And how about your reaction to compliments? (Yeah, I got myself with that one, too.) Do you belittle what others say about you because you think you're not as good as they say? Moderation is key. Obviously you don't need to get an over-inflated ego either. Paul has some great advice. "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment..." (Rom. 12:3:b).