Jabez Called On God

9 Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.
1Ch 4:9-10

The point God impressed on me with this text is that you don’t have to live up to your name!  Jabez, the name his mother gave him, means “sorrowful”. His prayer to God was in essence, “Lord, don’t let that label define me.  Give me a new name!”  The glorious truth is that God is the only One Who can truly redefine you.  Some people feel trapped by their decisions, as if they can never escape their choices. Man has given them a name, branded them with an identity that seems to be for life.  Some struggle with certain sins. They’ve always had a temper, always struggled with lust or discontent. Whatever it is, they just accept that state as the norm, never expecting to be free. But Jabez cried out to the God of Whom it is said there is nothing too hard for Him!  He can take a people who are “children of wrath” and make them children of His eternal love!!

Eph 2:1-5
1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

I love the “But God” phrase in v. 4. As bad as our previous state was, God is greater!  Where sin did abound, grace did much more abound! (Rom 5:20) Maybe you’re like that woman at the well…she’s already had five husbands and now is living with a man, thinking she can never be anything more.  She’ll never know true, enduring love.  But the Lord can make you a new creation!  He can show you love you’ve never known. He will be your Husband, unite Himself eternally with you, and you’ll never lack love again!  Just listen to how He would rename Jerusalem after she had been branded “forsaken” and “desolate”:

Isa 62:4-5
4 You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; but you shall be called Hephzibah [or “my delight is in her”], and your land Beulah [or “married”]; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married.

5 For as a young man marries a virgin, so shall your sons marry you; and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.

The reality is that your name isn’t really the issue. You’re looking at the wrong name.  Look to the Lord Jesus Who has been given a “name which is above every name”! (Php 2:9) He is able to handle any and every chain that binds you. Christ can set you free!  Just consider what He did in these lives:

  • Rahab the harlot became Rahab the ancestor of Christ! (Mat 1:5)
  • Ruth the Moabitess (Moabites were forbidden from the congregation of Israel per Deu 23:3) also is listed in Christ’s ancestry! (Mat 1:5)
  • Matthew the publican became Matthew the disciple of Christ!
  • The demoniac filled with a legion of demons became the preacher who told all ten of the cities of Decapolis what great things God had done for him! (Luk 8:26-39)
  • The woman recognized as she who sinned much was instead described by Christ as she who loved much! (Luk 7:37, 39, 47-50)
  • Blind Bartimaeus cried out to God incessantly and became seeing Bartimaeus! (Mar 10:46-52)
  • Lazarus who died became Lazarus who is alive!

We could go on and on.  As the Scripture tells us, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new”. (2Co 5:17) I pray this truth will encourage your hearts today.  Our God is able!

Jamie

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