Name Dropper

 

You may ask me for anything in my name and I will do it. John 14:14

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and they are safe. Proverbs 18:10

Just yesterday I heard a young woman tell a story about her father. Her father held a position of responsibility in our community and so when Whitney found herself in a little mess, she smiled her stunning smile and said basically here’s the ten reasons why what I did wasn’t all that bad and by the way, my dad is Mr. Important. Problem solved. Except it wasn’t. Her dad truly was a pillar in our community, a man of actual integrity not just approval seeking pseudo- integrity. As Whitney went on to say, facing the actual consequences of her actions would have been far easier than what she faced at home after dropping daddy’s name.

          Her father reacted as he did certainly to teach his daughter a lesson, to put a little fear into her but I think there’s more to it than that. Perhaps more than either of them saw at the time.

          Whitney used her dad’s name, a name to which he spent years attaching honesty, integrity, compassion and strength. She tossed it out there as a shield. She was right. Her dad’s name was a shield for her, not to get her out of a deserved penalty but to protect her from what was truly harmful. I’m sure there were times when being that man’s child afforded Whitney respect and consideration that she had not yet earned. Most likely there were times when Whitney’s dad told her to tell people she was his child, knowing that would open a door or two for her or keep her out of harm’s way.

          In listening to her I was reminded of how many times Jesus tells us to ask our Father for anything, using His name. Jesus is our entrée to the Father’s throne. (Hebrews 4:16)  He is our shield. We have His permission to drop His name.  We have His blessing and His promise that when we use His name, the name of Jesus, our prayers will indeed be answered.

          In our society name dropping is usually a way to bring attention to ourselves by using the accomplishments or notoriety of others. It is a practice that isn’t exactly pleasant. As is often the case with Jesus, dropping His name is good. It’s the right thing to do. Telling someone that we know some random celebrity is a bit boastful. Telling someone we know Jesus is an invitation.

          Whitney used her dad’s name with the confidence of a child who knows how well she is loved. We need to use the name of Jesus in the exact same way and in the exact same way, loving consequences will result.