what's in a name?

Thank you Sunday School and BSF.... 

I'm watching Veggie Tales with my kids, specifically "Rack, Shack, and Benny", when the narrator says that's "Rack, Shack and Benny... well that's not their real names, let me see if I can get this right their real names are Shadrach Meshach and Abednego."

Not me pausing the movie to explain to my children that "actually those aren't their real names either....those are the names that they're remembered by sadly. But those aren't their real names, when they were abducted and put into slavery and exiled their names were changed. Those aren't their real names, those aren't the names that their mommy gave them, and those aren't the names that God calls them. Their real names are Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. It's important to remember their real names!"

"Ok mom can we watch the movie now? 

Sure.

But for my friends... meanings of their Hebrew names Hananiah – God has been gracious; Mishael – who is what God is; Azariah – God has helped. Each of their names pointed back to the Hebrew God the one true God. Meanwhile their new names Shadrach – inspired of Aku; Meshach – belonging to Aku; Abednego – servant of Nego, all were false Babylonian gods. Babylonians were trying to make them into worshipers of a false god, but they remembered who they truly were and they remembered God called them by their true names. And when they were thrown into the furnace God knew who they truly were and who they truly worshiped. 

::chills:: 

No matter what everyone around you calls you remember who you really are and what your name is to the one true God.