Heart Matters

“And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, “The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!” Judges 6:12

When someone says a person called them out of their name, it usually means they have referred to or addressed them in a way that’s less than admirable. Being called out of ones’name really equates to being cursed out.  It’s never a good thing and no one ever likes when it happens to them.  But did you know that God will sometime call us out of our names as well?  And guess what?  When He does, it’s always a good, righteous, and holy thing.  When He calls us something different than we’re presently living in and displaying through our character, He’s in essence saying:this is who you were meant to be; this is who I’m going to make you become. Everything that God speaks is the truth!  You see, The One who created you, knows you better than any other.  Yes your Creator knows why He created you and who you were created to be.  Even as believers often times we can find ourselves living in opposition to what our Christian character should be and our calling in Christ Jesus is. Right there in the midst of our lives while we’re living in a fog clouded by ignorance, apathy, distraction and self-realization, the Lord is able to meet us where we are and confidently call us out with a new name (or title).  We can be living in a completely opposite way from what He’s purposed us to live and yet He lovingly redirects us and blesses us with a new and admirable name.  Why? Because He knows “we can do all things through Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:13. Because He knows it’ll be HIM working in and through us to accomplish the things He’s called us to do.  Because we we’re created for His glory and His purposes “..before the foundation of the world.” Ephesians 1:4  Because we we’re bought with an incredible price 1st Corinthians 6:20.

Regarding the above scripture, God called Gideon, a man who at that very moment was hiding from the Midianites, a “mighty man of valor”.  Gideon must have heard that greeting and immediately turned around to look for the real man the Angel of the LORD was addressing.  When he saw no one else he had to have been like “who me?”.  During this time the Israelites were dealing with the consequences of their sin of idolatry.  The Lord had given them over to the hand of the Midianites for the last seven years.  Every time the Israelites would grow their crops, the Midianites would come and jack everything they needed to survive.  So here is Gideon, impoverished with his people Israel, hiding out from their oppressors threshing in a wine press instead of out in the open where the chaff could more easily separate from the wheat. Here is Gideon, trying to survive, working under a very real and severe threat, operating out of a valid fear, when the Angel of the LORD appears to him and calls him out of his name.  

Just in case you’re wondering, many theologians believe most times when you see the Angel of the LORD appear in the Old Testament, it is in fact the preincarnate Christ. How cool is that?! Gideon is getting his work done but in the most inconvenient way and The Lord decides to meet him right where he is. Judges 6: 11-12 says “Now the Angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites.  And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, “The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!”  Whattt?!! Lol.  Did the LORD just call him a mighty man of valor while he was hiding out like a coward?!  HE did indeed!  You know why?  Well just look at what HE said before he called him a might man of valor-“The LORD is with you”!

Get this-God called Gideon out of his name-Gideon was operating out of fear and self-preservation and The LORD called him a hero.  But God also called him out of his name- Gideon means “one who cuts down”; “feller”; or “hewer.”  The name Gideon means “one who destroys.”  Gideon was called to fulfill exactly what his name meant and with the help and power of the LORD that’s exactly what he did.  It’s a beautiful story so I encourage you to read Judges 6-8.  By doing so you’ll get to see how the LORD patiently dealt with Gideon’s fear and disbelief as HE lovingly developed him into the warrior HE purposed him to be.

Do you know who God created you to be?  If you are in Christ you should at the very least know: you are CHOSEN– “So the last will be first, and the first last.  For many are called, but few chosen.” Matthew 20:16.  You are BELOVED– “As He says also in Hosea: “I will call them My people, who were not My people, And her beloved, who was not beloved.” Romans 9:25  You are SONS OF THE LIVING GOD– “And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ There they shall be called sons of the living God.” Romans 9:25-26  “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,..” Romans 8:16  You are HEIRS  OF GOD– “and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” Romans 8:17 You are SAVED– “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-10 You are MORE THAN CONQUERORS– “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Romans 8:37 

The Lord knows exactly who He created you to be.  I know you’ve heard the saying He uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Isn’t that so incredible?!  The Almighty God willingly, lovingly, patiently, calls us and gives us the privilege to accomplish awesome things for Him! For those who believe in Jesus, our real identity is found in Him.  So don’t be discouraged!  Know this-every day of your life He has purpose for your life.  Sometimes that purpose looks like our normal everyday lives of living serving and sacrificing for others.  However, sometimes our purpose encompasses some pretty awesome and supernatural assignments.  I’ve always said living for Christ is like being on the most incredible adventure ever!  He has a calling for all who belongs to Him.  He has a name just for you!

HE called a fisherman named Peter and made him a fearless fisher of men.  HE called a shepherd boy named David and made him and incredible king and established his throne forever.  HE called an unknown maiden named Mary and made her conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit and allowed her to give birth to the Messiah.  HE called a nomad named Abram and made him Abraham, a father of many nations.  He called a prince of Egypt turned shepherd named Moses to lead His people out of bondage. He called a beautiful Jewish girl named Ester to boldly stand in the gap and save her people from annihilation.  He allowed a prostitute named Rahab to be a progenitor of Christ.  He called a man named Saul who persecuted the Way to become an apostle to the Gentiles. He called a man named Matthew who oppressed and collected taxes from His people to follow Him and to go make disciples of men.  He called a man named Isaiah, a man of unclean lips to speak to a people who would not hear.  Yes the Good Shepherd “calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. And when He brings out His own sheep, He goes before them; and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice.  John 10:3-4

Have you thought about what name He has for you?  Has He called you “teacher”, “mentor”, “servant”, “help-meet”, “administrator”, “evangelist”, “missionary”?  I hope you’ll consider having a conversation with Him regarding what He’s calling you to right here and right now.  He is able to change our character through our calling.  Remember He renamed Abram-Abraham.  He renamed Sarai-Sarah.  He renamed Jacob-Israel.  He renamed Simon-Peter. He renamed Saul-Paul.  Revelation 3:12 says this “He who overcomes, I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God.  And I will write on him My new name.”  

The Lord created you for a specific purpose (purposes).  Are you walking in accordance to your calling? Do you know your name?  If not take heart! Even if you haven’t yet realized who you are-He knows who you are! Even feel like you don’t have a clue what His will is for your life-He knows exactly what it is!  Even if you feel like you’ve blown it for Him-over and over again-as long as you have breathe in your body He has something for you to do!  I love the movie The Lion King.  My favorite part is when Mufasa’s spirit speaks to his son and says “Simba, you have forgotten me.” To which Simba replies “No. How could I?” Then Mufasa says “You have forgotten who you are, and so forgotten me….”  Remember who The LORD is so that you can see who you are!  You are a child of The KING!

HEART TO HEART: WHO YOU REALLY ARE IS ONLY FOUND IN WHO YOU ARE TO HIM!