“My family goes to your church.” That was her comment when she noticed the First Baptist Church T-shirt I was wearing in the check-out line as she rang up my groceries. I asked who her family was and she hesitated. Not because she was embarrassed or anything. It was because she was used to calling them mammaw and papaw. It took her a few seconds to think of their actual names.

To her they will always be mammaw and papaw. I know them by their first names (as do a lot of people in our church), but my relationship with them is different than the one she has with her grandparents. It would be inappropriate and awkward if I called them mammaw and papaw.

Even though God is referred to by several names in the Bibles, the one I use most often when praying is “Father.” It never feels awkward or inappropriate because He really is my Father. Wow! The eternal God who created this universe is my Father.

Just as incredible is that He knows my name. He has written it in the book of life and a day is coming when Jesus will confess my name before His Father and the angles in heaven (Revelation 3:5). Wow! That will be a great day.

It’s all about relationships. Mine with God and the young lady at the cash register with her grandparents. Same thing is true with you. If you’ve committed your life to Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, God is your Father. Your name is in the book of life and will be called by Jesus in heaven. If Jesus is not your Lord and Savior, then…it’s a different story.

What’s a name? It depends…on your relationship.

Pastor Steve Hogg