CHOOSING a NAME

For me personally, I am not posting blogs or pictures for popularity, and I am certainly not doing it for visibility. I try not to post unless there is a purpose behind the content. And that purpose is to point people to Jesus. I don’t want anyone to see me or hear me. I only want to be a telescope that helps bring Jesus into clear view through what you may be going through.So by me sharing the recent anonymous remark (found on my Facebook wall, a picture of a hateful comment from Instagram), I am not doing so to generate sympathy or for anyone to feel bad for me. I am grateful for every single person who commented publicly or privately with encouragement and I don’t know where I would be without your faithful support.  However, and to be honest, my name does deserve to be hated on for what I’ve done.  That’s the nature of sin. That is the nature of choosing our own names. The Bible says, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches” (Proverbs 22:1). In other words, a good name to choose is Gods name. And Gods name—Jesus—in contrast with our names, is the perfect blend to show off what happens when grace meets our shame.So, I sit here and contemplate “themattmaherstory” for what it’s worth.  And I come to the convicted conclusion that transparency is the only recipe that works for me.  You see, I’m not trying to re-invent the wheel, but I am just trying to be real. And by being open and honest about the name sandwiched between “the story,” I must admit that I’m just a man that is unworthy of experiencing God’s glory. With that being stated, here is the main point again reiterated: My name does deserve the death penalty, but when I choose Gods name, He instead gives me the riches of eternity.So I choose His name to be my name and the riches of His grace to cover the wretchedness of my shame. That’s what the name between “the story” is supposed to do—it’s supposed to show the world the result of us choosing our own name compared to the restoration that exists when we finally choose Gods name.Thus, anything worthy that’s showing and any place graced by my going can only be God’s glory that’s flowing. It’s ALL God. And without Him, I am without direction.  I am without inspiration.  I am without testimony through the testing.  Without Him, I am left with ALL me; if it’s just me then I will always be guilty. Conversely, all the good and presentable is His doing and that which makes “the story” for His glory. So please remove my name from any credit of honor, lest I think it’s me doing anything worthy of honor.  Please see Jesus minus me because He equals anything desirable from me.Or at least see Jesus because of me; which means you see how my name caused great destruction, but His name is the reason why I know redemption.