I am unsure when this happened or what was said over the years to give the impression, but as a girl dad, my daughters show concern for carrying on the family name. Others are out there to advance this surname, and I cannot recall expressing a desire to incorporate my name or any other in their offspring. This consideration may be born out of love and appreciation. I am grateful for their love and have tried earnestly to respect their decisions in life, especially when young men have entered the picture and taken on the responsibility of their homes.
Above all of life’s lessons and things that I could do for these precious girls, I hope I have done my best to give them the Name above every name. When the things of this world are out of control, we turn to that Name. As the Proverb states, we run into that Name, and we are safe (Proverbs 18:10). The definition of into is “expressing movement or action with the result that someone or something becomes enclosed or surrounded by something else” (MS Bing). There is a reason that the Proverb specifies that the “righteous” run into the Name. Righteous alone is an adjective and refers to those who are morally right or virtuous.
With all I have seen and done, how can I expect to qualify as righteous that I may become enclosed or surrounded by that Name? The good news is that you are not able to qualify for righteousness! Wait, how is that good? Jesus has qualified you through His redemptive blood! Read the definition of into again: expressing movement or action. Any step in the right direction adds up; making these steps a daily practice is vital. My supervisor expressed his dislike for certain worship settings that seem to lean heavily on entertainment and less on doctrine. He followed this up with a remark about these experiences being a stepping stone to the next level: profound! Someone may not be ready to be fully enclosed or surrounded by Christ, but with each exposure, here a little, and there a little, they rest in safety and abide under the shadow of the Almighty (see Isaiah 28:11-12 and Psalms 91:1). Not long after meeting our Pastor, he expressed that not everyone that is coming to church is seeking forgiveness. The scriptures tell us “that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance” (Romans 2:4).
This observation is the legacy that I want to leave behind. No matter what you face or how far you think you have gone, there is always room for you at the Master’s table. God is not concerned about the condition of your name; He has a better Name! You are a child of God, and expressing movement in His direction causes Him to drop everything He is doing and run to meet you. Do you want to be safe, or some would say saved? Take action today! Cry out His Name! Open that Bible app to the verse of the day! Any movement or action accumulates, allowing us to take that next step. You are qualified and able to accomplish the simple things that will greatly impact your life and those you encounter. Start today, in Jesus’ Name!