John 1:42 Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John – but you will be called Rock” (which means “Peter”).
Everyone has a name. As soon as we’re born we’re named and that name stays with us for life. Our name is what people address us, and call us by from that day forward. Everyone’s name has a specific meaning and we either accept that meaning or we don’t.
In today’s verse we discover that Jesus is into changing names. This is because our original name does not always take us to the place that God has planned for our future. So He calls us by a different one. Simon meant, “hear and obey” which is a really great name but Jesus changed it to Peter, which meant rock. No one had ever been called “Rock” before but Jesus knew that this was what Simon would become in the future.
Peter’s life had been quite impulsive and unstable up to this point but when Jesus prophesied over him a new name it would affect the course of his life from that point forward. We discover the fullness of it’s meaning in Matthew 16:18 when Jesus says that this in what He can build His church on. Simon had to go beyond the destiny of his original name to receive the fullness of what Jesus called him.
This week allow God’s Word to rename you for your future. He wants to take you deeper into your destiny than your current name allows. Don’t allow you comfort zone of familiarity to restrain you any longer. Rather allow your new name to direct & draw you into the great future God has planned. You’ll be so glad you did!