Hi
Have you ever stopped to think about the Why’s of nicknames. Pumpkin head for a fat face, Mango for a serious mango eater, Methodists for Anglicans who followed the Wesley quadrilatetal; etc. But there are some nicknames in the Bible worth investigating. Today’s Holy Nougat invites us to consider how we are known.
When Ahab saw him, he exclaimed, “So, is it really you, you troublemaker of Israel?” 1 Kings 18:17 NLT
Elijah the Tishbite, messenger of God, should never expect to be called troublemaker with a given name which translated, “My God is YHWH”! And especially not from a king of Israel. Yet, I’m sure that was no surprise since it came from the lips of King Ahab. For Ahab had long forsaken the ways of the Almighty in deference to his wife’s religion.
Some nicknames are intended to hurt, not laud us. But we can determine the impact of the name. And therein lies one key to our response to nicknames. The Who determines our What. Although king, Ahab carried no moral or spiritual authority over Elijah, and so one could argue that the intended slur was actually a honorific. For, in a time of religious apathy, Elijah’s way would be unwelcome for Ahab. On the other hand, Elijah carried the sanctity of his call in his name. God’s name for him.
Now that doesn’t give us the authority to break the law; we live in vastly different times now. However, we are called to live faithfully for Christ in all we do, wherever we are. Will it earn us “goody-two-shoes” or a similar title, perhaps. Paul would say we count it all joy. For if we are a joy to God (little Christs to be precise); perhaps it’s ok if others think we are troublemakers or at least deterrents to their plans.
So let’s consider the situation round about us. How would the political authority view us? How would God view us? Which name matters more to us?
Selah
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
