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1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty ; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. 2 Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.” 3 Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, 4 “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. 5 No longer will you be called Abram ; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.(Genesis 17:1-5 NIV)
Dear Friend, what does your name mean? Is it a family name? Were you named for a relative? Are you one of the famous juniors running around? More importantly, what have you made your name to mean? My name is Eradio Valverde, Jr. I was named for my father, Eradio Valverde. Neither he nor I have a middle name. He was named by my grandma and when I asked her where the name come from, she could not remember. My grandfather said it was a Native American/Indian name, but he did not know what the name meant. I became aware that in the Valley of Texas there were a couple of Eradios. Imagine my joy when I did insurance enrolling several years ago in San Benito schools, that the SB High School choir director was named Eradio Martinez. Interesting because my grandmother's maiden name was Martinez. As a child my Dad was called Lalo by my mother's family and when I came along I became Lalito. At home by my parents and siblings I was Junior. I have even heard of some women named Eradia. And Eradio in some different forms of spelling is a popular surname in some countries. I have tried to make my name mean trustworthy, sincere, dedicated to God and God's service. Today we want to explore where the name Methodist comes from. But let's begin with name changes in the Bible, where for God's purposes, God took it upon Himself to re-name those for whom He had special jobs and interest.
In the Bible there are numerous name changes. Their given names became God-given names with important meanings behind the change. The first is the one I read. Abram who is known as the Father of the Faith, at age 99 is visited by God and God gives him a covenant promising Abram that he would have many descendants, and he would be the father of many nations and gives him a new name Abraham which means, as God says, "For I have made you a father of many nations." And as we know the rest of the story, Abraham and Sarah, whose name was also changed, were the parents of many nations with children as numerous as the stars in the heavens. Other OT name changes are Jacob to Israel because he fought against God and prevailed as found in Genesis 32:24–28. There are others in the OT; then we came to the gospels where the most famous is Simon to Peter, and Saul to Paul.
We come to John and Charles Wesley. The two were Oxford University grads and when John returned for further post-graduate studies, he finds that Charles and other like-minded students had formed a club to express their faith as Christians. The first name they gave themselves was The Holy Club. They had also established a daily routine of study and service. As this routine became known among fellow students, they came up with their own names. The Holy Club always got an early start on the day, usually 4 or 5 am. Upon awakening the first hour was dedicated to prayer. A solid hour on their knees in earnest prayer. The second hour up was spent in reading the Bible, and the New Testament in Greek. Another solid hour of soul-searching and God-seeking Bible study. The third hour the club would meet together for more prayer, Bible study and singing. Then the group would make their way to breakfast, they would attend classes for their academic pursuits, then lunch together though on Wednesdays and Fridays they would fast. After lunch or after afternoon classes they would devote themselves to holy service or Acts of Mercy; they would visit prisoners in Oxford jails; they would visit the sick, both in hospitals and at homes; they would teach poor children, they would feed and cloth the poor; and other acts of mercy that were based on Jesus' teachings in Matthew 25. They would celebrate Communion often and seek to perfect their lives in God's service.
And here came the names from the other students: "Bible Moths"; for the Holy Club members carried their Bibles everywhere and were known to spend much time in Bible study. They were also called "Holy Rollers", for the "enthusiasm" was also well known. "The Godly Club" meant to ridicule their devotion to God in a mean way. "Enthusiasts" meant to mock their excitement and joy in all things God. “Supererogation Men” to mock their acts of service as a means of earning their salvation. “Sacramentarians” because they took Communion often, while the Anglican Church only a few times a year. Finally, one guy yelled to John Wesley that they were a bunch of "Methodists!" And guess what? Wesley said that he liked that name and adopted it as their official name. Are you, if you call yourself a "Methodist" guilty of halfway or full-way imitating the originals?
The name "Methodist" wasn't chosen by Wesley—it was given by God through the mockery of others. And it stuck because it was true. They WERE methodical. They WERE disciplined. They WERE serious about their faith.
PRAYER: Lord, help me to live worthy of the name I bear—both my given name and the name "Christian" or "Methodist." Give me the discipline of the early Holy Club, the devotion of Abraham, and the faithfulness of Peter. May my life make my name mean something beautiful for Your kingdom. And this I pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: (And this is a long one!). Don't just read this and move on. Take these concrete steps starting TODAY:
1)Tomorrow morning, set your alarm 30 minutes earlier. Spend that first half-hour in prayer before you check your phone, before coffee, before anything else. Give God your first and best, not your leftovers. Open your Bible every day this week. Not just a verse on social media—actually open it. Read one chapter from the Gospels daily. Let God speak to you through His Word.
2)Find your "Holy Club." Text or call two fellow believers this week and ask them to meet regularly for prayer, study, and accountability. Don't go it alone.
3)Perform one act of mercy this week. Visit someone who's sick or lonely. Volunteer at a food bank. Tutor a struggling student. Give generously to someone in need. Do something tangible for "the least of these."
4)Fast one meal this week. Use that time to pray instead of eat. Let your hunger remind you of your deeper hunger for God.
5)Write down what you want your name to mean. Put it where you'll see it every day. Let it convict you, challenge you, inspire you.
This isn't about legalism or earning God's love—that's already yours through Christ. This is about responding to that love with wholehearted devotion. This is about making your faith intentional, methodical, transformative.
I love you and I thank God for you! You matter to God and you matter to me! The early Methodists changed the world because they let God change them first.Now go. Live it. Be the Methodist—the Christian—the disciple—you were called to be.
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
