Delta

In Washington D.C. there is a three-year-old girl named Delta - Delta Gerardi. As you can imagine she’s been hearing her name in the news a lot lately. Once she realized it was not in a good way, Delta became very sad. So her mom, Kellie, decided to make an appeal on Twitter to change the name of this variant of the Covid-19 virus. She wrote:

Petition not to call it “Delta Plus” and instead move on to the next letter in this cursed variant alphabet. Sincerely, the mother of a very sweet little Delta who once thought the airline would be the most annoying namesake joke.

Well, Delta Airlines saw her tweet and responded in a wonderful way.

This week Delta received a care package from Delta Airlines with a handwritten note. The package contained a pink Delta backpack, some Biscoff cookies, and a model plane. Andrea Feminella, the airline’s audience engagement manager, stated that it was, "Basically, everything we could find at the Delta Flight Museum gift shop with the name ‘Delta’ on it” (travelandleisure.com )." It was all about celebrating the name they share.

Kellie says Delta is really excited about her name now and is thankful for all the cool stuff.

When I read that story this week I couldn’t help but think of how God has given us a name to wear: the name Christian (Isa. 62:2, Acts 11:26). And to wear this name is a great honor. Because this name is special.

For one thing, it is only mentioned three times in the New Testament in Acts 11:26, 26:28, and in 1 Peter 4:16. More than that, it’s special because of the One whom the name represents: Jesus Christ, God’s one and only Son (Jn. 3:16).

To wear this name is to declare to others that we identify with Him and His mission (Lk. 19:10, Matt. 28:19-20).

Wearing His name proclaims to others that we belong to Him (cf. Rev. 22:14).

Wearing His name means that we are a disciple of Jesus Christ and try every day to live a life that honors Him and which follows in His steps (1 Pet. 2:21).

For a time, little Delta Gerardi was embarrassed by her name. Don’t ever allow yourself to be embarrassed by the name “Christian”! And even if you suffer because you identify yourself as a “Christian”, as Peter states in 1 Peter 4:16 — “Praise God that you bear that name.”

Philippians 2:9-11 tells us:

“Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, {10} that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, {11} and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Let’s praise God that we have been given the honor of wearing this name! And let’s live in such a way that we bring glory and honor to the name of Jesus Christ.