"... Our name is our virtue ... "

I was thinking about this line, from Jason Mraz' song, I'm Yours. I like this line. I like it 'cause made me think, "Whats he means, 'Our name is our virtue.'?"

I thought about family trees, and how some people find it so important to maintain a knowledgeable respect for their far removed ancestors. Are our ancestors our virtue? I don't think so. But maybe the case can be made for this if you consider that some grandfathers and fathers who may have had a dying request to their son or daughter, and that child, later becoming a father or mother and passes that same "virtue" on to their children. I don't know. Its not so true for me. I do however hold family to be very important, and necessary for a successful up bringing.

What else could he mean? Name = Virtue?

I have managed to listen to this song many times today. One simply because I love it. It makes me really happy, and it makes me think of the beach. Two, because I wanted to hear the line again. This has helped me to think and mull over the line.

One thing I called to mind while thinking of this was the verse, "Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called." (Eph 4:1) Also another similar verse is, "Only conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ" (Phil 1:27) ... I am not sure which one I thought of, maybe I combined them. But the point is ... these verses talk a lot about virtue! The name here is that of Jesus Christ - and all that is virtuous is summed up in this high and holy name!

First is "Jesus" - "Yahweh is salvation" - that is the meaning of Joshua, the Hebrew translation of Jesus.
Second is "Christ" - "Anointed" - that is the meaning of Messiah, the Hebrew translation of Christ

So that's the name, for Christians, that designates our virtue; that is a standard or level of moral excellence, goodness, or righteousness (as defined by dictionary.com). if by our names we are defining our own virtue, I do not want to be known as Adam Sleeper. Rather, as belonging to Christ. I am called to the gospel of Christ in the name of Jesus, and therefore, I am called by Jesus. Just to be sure, He died for me! ... and whats even better, is that He rose for me!!!

I guess I just got to thinking that if by our name, my virtues are defined; I wanted to be sure that my virtues then matched my name. And as it turns out, they don't. My virtues and moral excellence looks as though they belong to Adam Sleeper, not to Jesus Christ. I am a very moral person, but just because one has strong morals, doesn't mean he or she is moral in their actions. That's how I am. I mean, I don't want to be miss speaking, cause I am not having sex, doing drugs, getting drunk, or looking at pornography (to name 4 "big" issues that face people my age), but I am prideful, easy angered, impatient with some things, let my tongue go when I shouldn't (which I guess is never) I also complain and gripe, I worry and fret, and also I am selfish and typically motivated with the wrongs motives. To say the least these characteristics do not look like virtues to me.

I guess, this is somewhere between repentance and confession, and a charge or a exhortation! I want to change. I desire so desperately to look and be identified with Christ. I want people to look at me, and as they did with Peter, ask, "Hey weren't you with Him?" And I want to be able to say, "YES, Yes I am with Jesus! And will be forever!!!"

I repent, I am a hypocrite and quite often so. I repent, I love Adam a lot more of the time than I love others more than myself.

I am charged and exhorted by Paul, "Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of CHRIST!" and "Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called ... with all humility (not pride) and gentleness (not anger or wrath), with patience (not impatience), tolerance for for one another in love (not love for self) being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Eph 4:1-4)