The Dog With 1,000 Names

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"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."

Psalm 139:14, ESV

Squirrely, Whirly-bird, Bubba, Bear, Lovebug, Bug, Crazypants....let's just say Squirrel has a lot of nicknames. So many, in fact, that a trainer once warned that he might not know his own name.

The other day my roommate said she didn't think Squirrel knew his own name since he doesn't like to come when called.

I think there are other reasons for that....

If it's 6pm, and I say "Squirrel, come!" he grows wings in haste to get dinner. I call it "selective recall." He thinks he gives him freedom to do choose what he's in the mood for. Really, it just keeps that dumb boy permanatly leash-bound.

Nonetheless, my roommates words were a good reminder to be careful of using too many nicknames when training a dog. It's important that he recognizes his own name. He needs to know when I'm talking to him; he needs to know his identity.

We all have 1,000 names, some nicer than others. Sometimes the name is "wife," "best friend," "life of the party," "top performer."

Sometime the name is "stupid," "awkward," "boring," "outcast."

If we're not careful, those many names can cause us to forget our real names: "dearly loved," "wonderful and fearfully made," "image-bearer of God," "chosen," "valued."

Both the bad names - and yes, even the good ones - can skew our understanding of our own identity in Christ.

Tell me, would you be more apt to stand up if someone asked for all of the "fearfully and wonderful made" people to rise, or the "awkward and uncool" people? Which feels like more of your identity?

Poor Squirrel gets confused because I call him so many different things. Fortunately, God's names for us never change. If you're feeling like you've gotten so wrapped up in the nicknames you've been given against your will, perhaps join me this week in selecting one of your true names, given to you by the King of Kings.

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."

Genesis 1:27

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

1 Peter 2:9

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." E

phesians 2:10

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?"

1 Corinthians 6:19

"For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith."

Galatians 3:26