You’re whose kid?! …

Today I had an interesting “shout out” from a friend on Twitter.

It was from James Scott.

Wait … that’s my name!

The tweet was from a person named James Scott, giving a shout out to all the other James Scott’s out there. That made me think about the many others who share my name. Our backgrounds vary vastly, and it made me think about how there are many who I would be happy to share the same name with. But there are some whose character I would not want my name linked to in any way.

None more so than the character of my deceased father, whose namesake I really am.

Yes, I’m a “Jr.” While I have been called “Scotty” from the very moment I was born, that’s a nickname. My full name is James Scott, Jr., which means my father was James Scott, Sr. Unfortunately, I don’t have any lasting, positive memories of my father. So negative was his character that the State removed me from his physical custody in my early teens shortly after the death of my mother.

As a teenager, I struggled with carrying my father’s name. The reason being was that, of all the human beings I knew, he was the one I never wanted to be like. He was an unkind man who did not have the kind of character you wanted to emulate. And I never wanted anyone to think because I carried his name that I also carried his character, because I didn’t and never have.

I finally came to terms with the fact that although we shared the same name, that’s where the similarity ended (other than perhaps a little physical resemblance … he was my biological father). So I resolved to make sure the “Jr.” was always attached to my name to distinguish myself as distinct from my father, and live the best example I could.

While I disdained the idea of carrying my biological father’s name, I also had to come to terms with carrying my heavenly Father’s name. When I was 10, I gave my life to Jesus Christ and took on part of His name by becoming a “Christian.” Now I was carrying Someone else’s name, but one which I was humbled and privileged to carry. One I wanted to strive to live up to. One I was profoundly happy to be connected with. But one I certainly didn’t deserve or earn.

While I didn’t want to carry my dad’s name because of not wanting to be connected to his character, I found myself humbled that the Savior of the world extended His name to me and allowed me to carry it! His name was one I wanted to carry because His character was one I wanted to emulate. I wanted to become like Him as much as possible, and that continues to be what I strive for. The last thing I want is my Savior to regret extending His name to me.

Fortunately, living up to the name of “Christian” is something God empowers us to do. As He adopts us into His family, He changes us into the likeness of His Son. The Apostle Paul writes about this in the following passages:

“For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters,” Romans 8:29.

“But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God — truly righteous and holy,” Ephesians 4:20-24.

“For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes,” Galatians 3:26-27.

“For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps,” 1 Peter 2:21.

Christ has given us a name we can humbly be honored to carry, and one to spend our lives striving to represent well. By the power of His own Spirit working in us, we can bring glory to His name by sharing His character through our own lives.

Do people see the connection to your heavenly Father in the way you live your life? Does your life bring honor to God? How is the way you’re living bringing praise to the name of Christ?

Scotty