I wonder if you know what your name means?

The names we are given as babies very often tie us to our origins or family traditions so we might be named after a Grandparent or other loved one. Though nowadays that isn't always the case . . . 

Think about the Beckhams who raised eyebrows when they named their first child Brooklyn because of where he was conceived! Lyra Antarctica is also fairly unusual, but apparently this is exactly the reason why Ed Sheeran and Cherry Seaborn chose it for their daughter, because it is so unique, and also because they'd had a trip to the continent just before they became pregnant.

In biblical times the 'naming' of a child was just as significant and their name and characteristics were often linked. We can think of Adam, from the Hebrew Adamah, which means 'out of the earth'. Or Moses, who was so called because he was 'pulled out' of the water. And then there was Abraham named by God as the 'father of a multitude of nations' which is what he went on to become.

Elizabeth is descended from the Hebrew name Elisheva, which then became Elizabeth, and means 'God's promise' or 'God is my oath'. Hannah, a girl's name of Hebrew origin, means 'favour' or 'grace'. Sarah is also a name with Hebrew origins which means 'princess'.  And then, of course, there is Eve. Her name comes from the Hebrew Chavah, the word for "to breathe" or "to give life". The bible relates that 'Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living' Genesis.3.20). WOW! She was absolutely more than a spare rib!

When I was born my parents were expecting twin boys so I almost became Richard or Roger. Instead, they settled on Frances and Fiona which, according to my Mum, were two characters on a BBC radio show at that time called "Mrs Dales Diary' which some of our older readers may remember?!!

Interestingly, it was only a few years ago that I learned my name means 'free', which of course begs the question, 'am I free?'

Freedom isn't just who I AM, it's 'whose' I AM

And then one day I was intrigued by the verse in Galatians 5 which reads, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery". (verse 1).

What is this freedom of which Paul speaks? Especially considering that he was writing all about it from a prison cell. I mean, come on!

So, I did a bit of digging and found that in the Greek the word freedom – eleutheria - means to be liberated or no longer slaves. In the Greek context a manumission law was passed by the Roman Empire and it was a process whereby a slave could become free when his/her master would pay the temple treasury and a document would be drawn up containing the words ELEUTHERIA - 'for freedom'.

It is Christ who has paid the temple treasury so that I can be free from slavery. And the noun + the verb of Paul's word stresses the completeness of the act. It has been done once for all, so we do not need to let ourselves be burdened again by another form of slavery!

Later Paul reminds us in verse 13, "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free!"

And freedom is absolutely my position in Christ, yet it is not where I have spent most of my time. Instead, I have pitched a tent in amongst the lies and wallowed in them until they have stolen, not only my freedom, but years of precious time. 

And after all the struggling, here is the revelation, that freedom isn't just who I AM, it's 'whose' I AM. I AM God's possession and I AM a daughter of the King. Furthermore, freedom isn't just my position in Christ it is God's purpose for my life. 

And this is what I am journeying toward . . . but that's for another blog post!