So I get to race the world with some pretty sweet people. For more information on my team, check out the 2007 Particpant page. One of our tasks was to come up with a team name.
What’s in a name? Even if a rose is still a rose, names seem to be important to God. After Jacob wrestles with God, he is renamed Israel (meaning “wrestles with God” and seems to also apply to the Old Testament nation of Israel). Jesus changes Peter’s name to Cephas, meaning “the rock.” Even the name “Jesus” means “God saves.” These are all biblical examples of God infusing meaning and identity into names.
After much discussion, consideration, and prayer, our team has decided on the name Agapetos {ag-ap-ay-tos’}. Some might recognize the word Agape – which is one of the several Greek words for ‘love,’ meaning specifically ‘God’s love.’ Agapetos is a Greek word, taken from the New Testament which was originally written in Greek. In its simplist form, “Agapetos” means “Beloved.” Other meanings are “esteemed, dear, favourite, worthy of love.”
It is the equivalent of the Hebrew word used in the Song of Songs verse “I am my Beloved’s, and he is mine.” It is also used in Matthew 3:17 at Jesus’ baptism. A voice comes down from heaven and says “This is my Beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Many argue that the rest of Jesus’ life and ministry were empowered by that baptism and those words.
By identifying ourselves as the Beloved of God, we claim the empowerment and purpose inherent in being His own. As a friend of mine recently reminded me, we are called first to be loved. It is only then that we can pour out God’s love to others. John Piper says, “Love is the overflow of joy in God that meets the needs of others.” We can overflow with joy and meet needs because we are the beloved of God!
