Abram to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah, Jacob to Israel, Simon to Peter and Saul to Paul. Those are just a few of the name changes that occur in scripture. In Genesis 32:24-28 we read about a man named Jacob who after spending a night wrestling with God, demands a blessing which is granted him in the form of a new name, Israel. Names in the Bible come with meaning as well as a new identity when it comes from God. Take Jacob for example, which means “one who seizes or circumvents“. Keeping in mind Jacob’s name accurately describes him at this point in his life, since he stole not once but twice, his older brother’s rightful blessing. The name Israel however, means “one who struggles with God”, which makes sense since Jacob received this new name after a night of wrestling with God. Going forward, the name Israel becomes much more than a single man’s name but a name and identity for all of God’s people.

The problem initially is that Jacob pretty quickly forgets he was given a new name and identity by God, so he continues to live up his old name as evidenced in Genesis 33-34. The thing is this happens to all of us. While we may not receive a formal name change when we choose to follow Jesus, we do become children of God. Which means we get a new identity! And just like Jacob we often forget the new identity that comes with our new name and we fall back into living up to our old identities of sinners and lost. It’s almost like we have spiritual ADHD. I’m not even sure this is a thing, but if it is – I’m positive I have it! My mornings start the same pretty much every day. I get up, shower, make a cup of coffee and then spend some time reading my Bible, journaling and praying. Then I get ready to go to work. Very little time passes between the two. But there are days when I forget that I am a child of God way too quickly!

My day job is working at a preschool in our church. This job provides me with the blessing of being able to interact with lots of little people, some of which struggle with ADHD tendencies. You’ve probably known children like this. Those that can’t sit still for longer than about 5 minutes and often struggle with focus. Earlier this week I was spending some time with one of my little friends when the thought of spiritual adhd occurred to me. My preschool friends can’t help it. Their little minds and bodies are easily swayed by anything and everything new and/or different. Preschoolers can be melting down at one moment because they have to have circle time again today. And in the very next moment, see someone new coming in the room and be up and ready to meet them, all chipper and happy. 

Can you see the parallel? I/we tend to do the same thing with God!!! No matter how many times we leave our homes fully on board with following, listening to and obeying God all day, there are days and times when we just forget or get distracted. For me, it can happen so quickly, in the moment that I don’t even realize. Someone asks me to do something I’d rather not do again, or an opportunity to do something new presents itself, boom- just like my preschool friends I can find myself falling back into my old identity and habits!  In the process forgetting all about the new name and identity I’m supposed to be living with. My words, actions, attitude and focus do not match that of a child of God. Thankfully God doesn’t give up that easily, He gently slows me down and reminds me that I belong to Him and that I’m not in this alone. He is with me every step of the way!

Colossians 1:21-23 says “Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions.  But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before him—  if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith and are not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become a servant of it.” 

We can learn alot from the apostle Paul, formerly Saul, a persecutor of Jesus. Once he met Jesus and received his new name and identity he was all in. Paul clearly understood that he had one purpose and one goal “to live a life worthy of the calling he had received”. He knew without a doubt what and who God had called him to-share the love of Christ with the Gentiles. He says in Colossians 1:28-29 “We proclaim him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. I labor for this, striving with His strength that works powerfully in me.” Don’t you love those last few words “I labor and strive with His strength”, they remind us that there is someone who lives in us who is able to do and what we cannot. Including helping us to focus and keep working toward the life we’ve been called to live. I want to be like Paul when I grow up – completely sold out, willing to work hard to share the love of God with those I know He has called me to.