When Pepper
Puryear was a boy, he had a dog named “Sic ‘em.” One evening, a man and his
wife were riding horses down his street, along with their daughter who was
riding on a pony. Puryear’s dog ran into the street and started barking at the
horses. Then the dog became more aggressive and started circling the little
girl on the pony. Pepper’s father jumped off the porch and tried to call
the dog off by yelling, “Sic ‘em! Sic ‘em!”
The cowboy on the horse was furious that the man was telling the dog to attack his daughter! He grabbed a rope off his saddle, twirled it over his head, and lassoed the dog. Then he jumped off his horse and tied the dog’s legs together, just like he was tying up a calf in a rodeo.
Pepper’s father apologized to the man and explained that the dog’s name was Sic ‘em and he wasn’t trying to unleash his dog on the man’s daughter. The angry cowboy said, “Your dog is named Sic ‘em? You need to change that dog’s name!” (MORE Amazing Stories & Daily Devotionals Day 52)
Sometimes people, like dogs, need a new name. In the Bible, God would often change a person’s name to establish a new identity. He changed Abram’s name to Abraham, which means “father of a multitude” (Gen. 17:5). He changed Abraham’s wife’s name from Sarai to Sarah, meaning “mother of nations” (Gen. 17:15). Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter, the “rock”, the leader of the disciples. After Saul was converted, he became known as Paul. The new name was God’s stamp of approval for the new destiny He had called them to.
When you receive Jesus Christ into your life, the old things have passed away and new things have come (2 Cor. 5:17). He gives you a new destiny and will give you a new name in heaven (Rev. 2:17). You are no longer Sic ‘em, or Worthless, or Rejected, or Unloved. Your new name is Forgiven Child of God. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net
This week’s VIDEO TEACHING In this video Allen Parr discusses The Dead Sea Scrolls (click to watch) how they were discovered and why we can trust the Bible.
