Devotion731

"Name"

Reference: Proverbs Chapter 22

Everything must have a name. The name is the identity of the thing, the person, the place, or event. You are identified by your name.

There is a good name and a bad name. A bad name can be changed to a good name, and a good name can be changed to a bad name.
Before he was Paul, he was Saul. Before he was Israel, he was Jacob.
Before he was Dam, he was Adam. Before he was blood (Dam), he was God's blood (Adam). Names can change.

The man or woman with a good name is the one who has exited the blood of Dam into God's blood, Jesus Christ, Adam.
The first Adam lost his position as Adam in his broken covenant. He is now Dam. Jesus Christ today is Adam, God's blood.

A good name is better than a million worlds. A good name is better than silver or gold. A good name is a man or woman who is in the blood of Jesus Christ, who has entered eternal life, who has escaped sin, disease, and even death.

Lets read:

Proverbs 22:1 "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold."

 We choose the good name by choosing to go the way of God, which is Jesus Christ, God's blood.
There is no good name outside of being in Christ. The good name is Jesus Christ. We receive a good name only when we are in Christ

We continue our reading:

Proverbs 22:2-4 "The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all. [3] A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. [4] By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life."

Riches, honor, and life are only in Christ. They come to the individual who has humbly moved out of the blood of Adam into the blood of Christ.

We continue our reading:

Proverbs 22:5-20 "Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them. [6] Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. [7] The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. [8] He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail. [9] He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor. [10] Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease. [11] He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend. [12] The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor. [13] The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets. [14] The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein. [15] Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. [16] He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want. [17] Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. [18] For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. [19] That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. [20] Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,"

The Word of God is the source of excellent things, counsels, knowledge, and truth.

We continue our reading:

Proverbs 22:21-28 "That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee? [22] Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: [23] For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them. [24] Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: [25] Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul. [26] Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts. [27] If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee? [28] Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set."

The landmark is the line of separation. It separates the believer from the unbeliever, the righteous from the wicked. The word of God is the landmark.

We conclude our reading:

Proverbs 22:29 "Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men."

Diligence in all affairs is a backbone to success. Without diligence, a man or woman is bound to fail.
As important as success is, God has not called us to be successful. He has called us to be faithful.

Enter into the Name above all names. BELIEVE and confess Christ, the Second Adam, as we revealed Him from the First Adam. One good name, in Christ!