Hi, please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Chia Poh Fang. This is my dialect name, and I’m a Hakka. So, in Chinese, my name reads Xie Bao Fang. “Xie” is my family name and it connotes gratitude. “Bao” means protection. And “Fang” means fragrance. So my name means “thank you for protecting the fragrance.”
Names are interesting, aren’t they? In fact, some people claim that a child’s name can tell us something about his parents—their race, social standing, and even their politics.
Abimelech means “my father is king.” What does that tell you about Abimelech’s dad? No prize for guessing it right. Abimelech’s father, Gideon, had an ego issue. When the Israelites asked Gideon to rule over them, he refused—but then he proceeded to live like a king (Judges 8:22-30). Gideon’s son would not be as kind and gentle a ruler as his father. He connived to rule over his people, and, murdered 70 of his half-brothers to make sure it happened (Judges 9:1-5).
Many explanations could be given for Abimelech’s lust for power. Upbringing would be one of them. In fact, many of us imitate what was modeled and taught to us by our parents.
But while family backgrounds may shape our personalities and create complexes, we don’t have to remain that way. For “anyone who belongs to Christ hasbecome a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
The life-giving Spirit now lives in us, providing new perspectives and the ability to live out new behaviors. As believers in Jesus, we now have new family traits to follow and portray.
Have you received Him as your Savior and Lord? If so, you belong to Him and 2 Corinthians 5:17 is a reality for you!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Job 42:1-17
More:
Read Proverbs 22:1 and consider what it takes to have a good name.
Next:
Can you identify how your upbringing has shaped some of your current behaviors and attitudes? What Christlike character qualities do you need to “put on” and what sinful ways do you need to “put off”?
bluefigtoast on May 11, 2014 at 4:56 am
Names are interesting, aren’t they?
My first name is: Wayne.
It means “wagon maker.” Not very glamorous is it? But I was challenged to find a scripture matching my name.
A wagon carries a load.
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Gal 6:2 NIV)
I would challenge you to find out what your name means, then find a scripture to match your name.
My sister’s name is Cynthia. It means “moon.” What does the moon do? It reflects the light of the sun.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matt 5:16)
Wayno
Poh Fang Chia on May 11, 2014 at 8:05 pm
Thanks, Wayne.
Finding a Scripture verse that matches our name. This is such a cool suggestion.
🙂
Poh Fang
alli on May 11, 2014 at 6:47 am
My name means truth and noble, hard to live up to. Both my names mean the same thing.
ghchong on May 11, 2014 at 7:17 am
My name means “blinding friend” (Alvin’s not-so-precise summary). That is perhaps why my own eyes are so small… Baofang, can you contact me? For (some) obvious reasons, including if I were to hazard a guess, many Hakkas whom I’ve met (though not many at all), including myself, appear to have converted to Christianity in Singapore. My no. is 93397207. Thanks.
Roxanne Robbins on May 11, 2014 at 10:44 am
Wayne – Good idea to identify scripture that matches our name and gives us some good marching orders accordingly.
ghchong on May 11, 2014 at 6:22 pm
“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”
(All the verses are Mine!)
Daniel on May 19, 2014 at 12:22 pm
The meaning of my name is “God is my judge”
Bao Fang, I have been learning Chinese so I am curious the Chinese characters that make up your name. If you don’t wish to post them on the blog please feel free to email me. My teacher gave me the Chinese name Dan1 ni2 （丹尼）which is supposedly the equivalent of Daniel in English.
daisymarygoldr on May 23, 2014 at 2:07 pm
Poh Fang, beautiful name 🙂
Upbringing influences our character, is worldly wisdom. Even non-Christians go by this common knowledge. In the society where I was raised, the behavior of children was attributed to their family background. This is not always true.
Look at Cain who did evil, while his brother Abel did what was righteous. How do we explain the drastic difference between 2 brothers born to the same set of parents and raised in the same home environment? No clearer illustration shows that upbringing is not the real reason behind our personalities and complexes.
The Bible gives us deeper insight to look below the surface and points out the root cause of our character. The real reason of all human behaviors and attitudes can be clearly traced to two families. Regardless of our genes, race or social standing, we are either children of the devil or children in the family of God.
The difference between the two heredities is further explained in John’s epistle: when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil. But those who have been born into God’s family can’t keep on sinning, because as you rightly said, God’s life is in them. Based on this wisdom from above we can separate those who display God’s divine nature from the ones who exhibit the traits of their father, the devil.
Abimelech, was the son of a slave woman (Judges 9:18). Everyone who sins is a slave of sin. And a slave is not a member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever (John 8:34-35). Jesus came to set us free so we are no longer forced to sin. We are free to choose and be controlled by God’s Spirit. So, since we are named the children of God, let us stay prepared with the purity of Jesus’ life as a model for our own (1 John 3: 2-3).