Contact Us
I use endearing names a lot: for my husband, my children, my grandkids. My most common name would be “Sweetie,” and I use it for anyone. I call my husband “Hon” and my grandgirls are Sweetpea, Peanut and Bug.
Why do we use nicknames? To be honest, sometimes it’s because we can’t remember someone’s real name. Or we want to show respect for someone, like when we call someone the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of all Time). But usually, it’s because we really like the person we are naming. We know their real name, but these affectionate endearments remind them how special they are to us.
In the Bible, we find quite a few terms of endearment God uses for us.
FRIEND: A friend believes the best in us and brings out the best in us. John 15:15 NIV says, “Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” He is the perfect kind of friend. He knows exactly what we need. His timing is perfect.
MASTERPIECE: God thinks we are beautiful, in a way no one else is. Ephesians 2:10 ESV says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, so that we would walk in them.” The word translated “handiwork” could easily be translated to “work of art” or “masterpiece.” That is what God thinks when he looks at us, and he has already prepared good things for us.
TREASURE: I have two treasured physical possessions – my mom’s Bible and a necklace from my husband. These things may not mean anything to anyone else, but they mean a lot to me. In Deuteronomy 7:6 NIV, God says: “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.” God wrote this about the Israelites, and about us. He treasures us.
SONS AND DAUGHTERS: God wants an intimate relationship with us. 2 Corinthians 6:18 NIV says, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” He is a good Father to us – one who provides, protects and supports his children. He knows what we need and doesn’t withhold any good thing from us (Psalm 84:11).
DELIGHTFUL: When was the last time someone called you delightful? Zephaniah 3:17 NIV, says, “The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Psalm 18:19 NIV says, “He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.” Think of the delightful things your child does. God feels the same way about you. He looks at you, grins at you, admires your artwork (even if he can’t figure out what you drew), and he laughs at your jokes – the same way you do with those little ones (or big ones) you love.
There is great power in the names God calls us. Remember those names.
Question:
- What names are you calling yourself that you need to replace with one of the names God uses for you?
Kelli Jordan (kellijordan.blog)