“I face your Temple as I worship, giving thanks to you for all your loving-kindness and your faithfulness, for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.”

— TLB Psalm 138:2

As I read this scripture this morning, I couldn’t help but contemplate the portion that says, “your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.”  

So many times in my life my promises have lacked sound backing.  It’s so easy to make promises to my children and my spouse and never follow through.  Or at best use some excuse to wiggle out of my promise when it becomes inconvenient.  It seems that I am not alone.

The news cycle is full of broken promises in the political arena.  The names of those seeking leadership in our country are tainted by years of broken promises.  It’s not a Democrat problem, a Republican problem or an Independent problem but a sin problem.

The scriptural definition of sin is to “miss the mark” or to “fall short of the intended target”.  The intended target for us as Christians is to back our promises with the honor of our name. Part of the brokenness of society is to produce homes where a child’s inherited name means nothing — where fathers and mothers pass on names associated with drugs, alcohol, abuse, financial ruin, unforgiveness and failure on all levels.  This is the deepest of poverty and it can never be fixed by government legislation.

It can only be fixed by a life-changing experience where our spiritual poverty and shame is replaced as we are adopted, given a new name by the loving-kindness and faithfulness of a Savior whose promises are backed by the honor of His name.

As children of God, we have a responsibility to carry the name of ‘Christian” with honor.  Christian literally means “little anointed one”.  We are to look and act like our big brother, Jesus.

When the world and those in relationship with us, see us they should not see promise breakers but promise keepers. For strife and division to permeate the Christian church is to our shame.  It can only happen when are representing ourselves and not the family name. God is not the God of strife and division but of peace and unity.

When my two sons were growing up, I used to tell them that their actions represented not only themselves but the family name.  I challenged them to consider their actions at school and in the community and to represent the Nunnally name with honor.

I wanted them to understand that they had all the privileges and inheritance of being a Nunnally but also all the responsibility of carrying the name with honor.

As Christians we have all the blessings and inheritance of the kingdom of God but we also have the responsibility to represent well the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  

The scripture states in Proverbs 22:1 NAS “A good name is to be more desired than great wealth. Favor is better than silver and gold.”

I challenge you to begin to build a good name for yourself and for your family.

If you do, the wealth will take care of itself as you seek the kingdom of God first.