'When God wants to do a new thing, He sometimes wants a new name to carry the new thing to its full completion. In the Jewish mindset, a name carries with it authority, character and identity. This is still true in different parts of the world, even today. There is the concept of new wine skin carrying the new wine. Usually the spiritual realm is affected by the nature of things and names carry some weight in spiritual things. When God gives a name, it carries weight in terms of the character and identity that is revealed by its meaning. A new name by God implies a completely new identity. Abram is so different from Abraham that the man who gave birth to Ishmael is different from the man who gave birth to Isaac. The promises came to pass in the life of the man who was called Abraham. His new name carried a new identity- A father of multitudes. It describes his destiny and future in the plans of God. The fulfillment of the promises took place in the life of a new man with a new name. The new name implies a new nature. We are a new creation with a new name carrying a new authority with a new identity to fulfill a new destiny in God.

Identity and character determines access, strength and purpose that we can experience. Who you are determines what you can do. Remember when John was born, he was not named after his Father Zechariah; this was because he was not going to fulfill what his natural descent was going to cause him to fulfill. As a child of a priest, he was expected to follow after and become a priest like his father. God had another plan for him.

It was not without significance that Nebuchadnezzar gave new names to Daniel and his friends so they could function within the purposes of the Babylonian kingdom. Just as God had plans for them, like everyone else, Babylon had plans for them. The name you bear in the spirit should be the name God calls you which will be in accordance with His purposes for your life.

For God’s purpose to be fulfilled in our lives, amongst other things that should be established in our thoughts, the subject of commitment stands out. Somehow commitment is one word that makes a world of difference between success and failure. The point is that it is not usually obvious. Our greatest days are the days when our commitment is at its highest. A great commitment to the great commission produces a great church. When Daniel’s friends were confronted with the option to bow or not, to the image of gold, their commitment to God was the key. Their correct concept of God also played a vital role. They had a two-fold concept of God. He is able and no matter the consequences, He expects us to do what is right anyway. When we have the correct concept of God our commitment will be stronger too. Remember our commitment will always be tried and our God will be glorified. We must forget the things behind; embrace the new things of God with a new level of commitment.

Whenever we are at a crossroad of commitment in our lives, these points will help:

A personal decision must be made. Only you will live with the commitment you make for your own decision. The decision will cost you something. You can count on that. Others will be influenced by it. Every major commitment will affect others. It is the place God reveals Himself.

Commitment starts with little things in our lives. Commit to winning your next-door neighbor rather than winning the whole world.

The new order demands a new commitment. Let us take this new name we have and demonstrate a new commitment to the great commission so that God can be glorified.

Rev Kola Ewuosho