"I'm going to name her Ruthie" I told my husband
as we drove to pick out a new puppy. I
thought I had picked her name but Ruthie was not her name.
On the car ride home, I knew what her name would be. I'd heard her story. She had been a member of
a litter of pups dumped with her mother on a desolate farm road on a cold
January night. Two sisters lived in a
nearby farm house and took in the new mother and pups. They fed them, gave them shelter and their
first vaccinations. I saw the advertisement
in the newspaper, "Free pups to good homes." When we arrived, and chose our pup, one of
the sisters gave me the information on the vaccinations, a bag of dog food and
the assurance that if the pup didn't get along in our home to please bring her back.
Her name was Gracie. Gracie had been brought back twice because she
didn't fit into a family. That's when I
knew her name was Gracie, not Ruthie.
She'd found grace several times.
Later I found out that the mother of the two sisters who rescued the
pups was named Grace.
Her name and her story always reminds me of my faith journey
with God and how He rescued and rescues me with His amazing grace. Gracie lived up to her name, at least to me.
God always takes me back when I try to fit into the world.
In Philemon 9b- 11, Paul introduces his reason for the
letter to his friend Philemon. He
appeals to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus.
He begins by sharing that Onesimus had been useless but now was
useful. He had become a believer in
Jesus while with Paul. Paul was now his
spiritual father and Onesimus was Paul's spiritual son. Onesimus had served Paul while Paul was in
prison.
Onesimus means useful, beneficial, and profitable. Now he was useful in the ultimate way-useful
to God and His mission. Bible commentator, Matthew Henry, said of Onesimus
"Now he (Onesimus) will answer to his name."
The same Greek word for useful is found in 2 Timothy 4:11
referring to Mark's assistance in Paul's ministry. In 2 Timothy 2:21, Paul compares the use of household articles
which have noble purposes and ignoble purposes.
In the Living Bible, "If you stay away from sin you will be like
one of these dishes made of purest gold--the very best in the house--so that
Christ himself can use you for his highest purpose."
My name, Janice, means "God is gracious". (For
real, I didn't make that up, just ask the internet!) In 1953 when my mother choose my name, Janice
was the 23rd most popular girl name. In
2015, Janice is the 1238th most popular
name. Obviously I have a vintage name
and some days I feel like I live up to being vintage.
Today I am challenged by Onesimus, Matthew Henry and
Gracie. Will I answer to my name? Will anyone know of God's grace as a result
of my story or my ministry?
2 Timothy 2: 15 "Do your best to present yourself to
God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed...."
NIV
OR
"Work hard so God will say to you "Well
Done...." Living Bible
OR
Be useful to God and hear God say "Well done, my child"
- Jan's paraphrase.
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