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One
of this year's holiday projects was to climb and examine the family tree. My wife
Bonita spent many hours with her uncle and other family members looking at old
pictures and gleaning stories, identities, and little known facts about some of
her nearly long lost relatives.
Back in the small town "good old days", the family name meant
more than today. Some of Bonita's family were cheese makers in Wisconsin. Their
name carried a reputation, especially among dairy farmers and cheese buying customers.
Other family members were good honest farmers and successful businessmen. Bearing
the name well was important in the family.
Paul wrote to get the Romans to understand one of the most
fundamental Biblical truths. There were Jews, God's "chosen people" among the
original readers, who may have been putting too much stock in their linage. As
a people, the Jews had been given many prophets as well as the Word of God. God
had done great miracles, used them, and will use them as the pivotal people in
the world. But some of them had the idea that their claim to name somehow individually
covered them in their relationship with God.
If you have taken some label, denominational or otherwise,
and think your personal walk with God is covered because of that, you are missing
the same important Biblical truth. "Whosoever believes in Him, will not perish,
but have ever lasting life." Do you personally believe and does that belief cause
you to bear the Christian name well?
All Scripture references are from the New American
Standard Version unless otherwise noted.
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~ Bearing
the Name
