"His Name's Sake"

What"s in a name, anyway?" The remark is sometimes thrown out when an explanation is offered concerning some name that may be difficult to spell or pronounce. It is too readily taken for granted that the answer to the question is simply, "No importance at all!"But this can scarcely be true. Solomon by inspiration has told us that "a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches" (Prov. 22:1). Bible names always have significant meanings and very often these afford valuable clues as to characters themselves.

Above all in importance is, of course, the Name of our Lord. Scripture abounds with precious teaching concerning the significance of His Name and titles. First of all every believer is

SAVED

or "forgiven for His Name's sake" (1 John 2:12). This passage in 1 John is like a little love-letter to each young Christian. First, there is the salutation-"My little children." Then comes the introduction-"I write unto you." But how important is the content of the letter- "Your sins are forgiven you!" And the signature follows-"For His Name's sake."

I trust that every reader has personally received this letter from the Lord.

Then, in the third epistle of John (ver. 7), we read of some who

SERVED

"for His Name's sake." These men, having been forgiven, had launched out in full dependence on the Lord for every supply to tell out the story of grace. No board, committee or council, had authorized them; their marching orders had come from the Head of the Church. He had equipped them, and so out they went bearing precious Seed. Nor did they rely for support on the world; they took "nothing of the Gentiles." Their Lord, for whose Name they had gone forth, had received nothing from the world save a borrowed cradle at the beginning and a borrowed grave at the end, and to Him alone they would look for the meeting of every need.

One of the great needs of the hour is for concentrated, Spirit-filled young men who are willing to sacrifice for the Gospel's sake, and lean upon God for each arising requirement. Does it not woefully weaken the dignity of the message when the professed messenger of a rejected Jesus solicits help from His enemies to support His work! Let us get back to apostolic methods, and then we may expect apostolic results; "for the sake of the Name they went forth taking nothing of the Gentiles."

But if salvation and service are connected with His Name so also is suffering. In Matt. 24:9 we read of some who

SUFFERED

"Ye shall be hated of all nations for my Name's sake." As sinners we are forgiven, as servants we serve, and as disciples we suffer-and all for the worth of the peerless Name He bears.

The more we confess its sweetness the more we shall suffer. The world detests it, and even religious people prefer to speak of the "Man of Nazareth," "the Carpenter," and "the Master," rather than give Him His full appellation, the Lord Jesus Christ.

O young believer, His Name has been put upon us- the Name that fills the Glory-Land with fragrance. Let us speak of it, sing of it, and boast of it increasingly till He come! -C. Ernest Tatham.