What's in a name? Here it is.

Caleb Justus
One who wholeheartedly follows Christ
and proclaims God's justice

in order that the world would know God's grace.

Caleb, you received your first name because Caleb means to me "one who wholeheartedly follows the Lord." If you look in baby name books you'll see the meaning is actually "dog." If you look in a politically-correct-we-don't-want-to-offend-anyone baby name book, it may say "faithful" or "bold." The Hebrew origin of the name does actually mean "dog," and I hope you do understand your humble origins. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1: 26-31, "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: 'Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.'" As your mom, I will always believe that you're the smartest, fastest, best kid ever. But I also know the reality that God has brought us into this world humble and needy, so that He will be glorified in the end. I pray you realize your humble origins, and Christ's ability to redeem you from them.

Not many of us were much of anything when we were called (or named), but I also hope that through Christ you also realize the legacy of the person after whom you are named. When I read the life story of Caleb in the Old Testament (Numbers 13, 14, Joshua 14, 15), I can't help but notice that he has a sub-title almost every time his name is mentioned. Caleb: who followed the Lord wholeheartedly. As you read his story, you'll see that Caleb passionately believed in an Almighty, powerful God who keeps his promises. God had promised the land of Canaan to his chosen people, the Israelites; hence the name "Promised Land." Caleb did not doubt God's ability to keep his promise. Even though only one other person stood with him to proclaim what was true and right, Caleb did not back down. He faithfully, boldly, and wholeheartedly followed the Lord his God (see Numbers 14:6-9), believing all the while that his God was powerful enough to keep his promises. Not only does Caleb stand up when he's in the limelight, he's faithful to follow Christ when he receives nothing in return. Joshua was the one chosen to follow in Moses' leadership and lead the Israelites into the Promised Land after 40 years of wandering in the desert. Even though he wasn't in charge, Caleb continued to follow the Lord and his commands. In the book of Joshua, after wandering the desert for 40 years, he and his family is awarded the area of Hebron in the Promised Land, and Caleb doesn't hesitate to conquer and take over the land, even when he's 85 years old the oldest man around by far. In his story, you'll also see that he offers his daughter in marriage to the first man to conquer a certain section of land in Hebron. The first time I read this story, I thought Caleb had done an awful thing, devaluing and "selling" his daughter in this way. But as I read and studied more, I realized that Caleb was still being true to his subtitle. He was still following the Lord wholeheartedly and passionately. He believed that God had given them the Promised Land, and yet they still were not living in parts of it. So he challenged the young men around him to conquer it. In this way he provided his daughter with a husband who also believed that the Almighty, powerful, Creator God keeps his promises. Our prayer for you is wrapped up in the legacy of this Old Testament man. We pray that you will wholeheartedly, passionately follow the God of the Bible, that you will boldly stand for truth even in the middle of opposition, that you will faithfully serve even when you don't have the limelight, and that you will trust Christ to accomplish all this in your life.

Caleb Justus, you received your middle name because your dad and I have recently been impacted by the truth that our God is a just God. Many times when people say God is just, they are referring only to his judgment and wrath. We want you to know that God's justice is a good thing. The fact that God is just means that God rewards the right and punishes the wrong in this world. Until we understand that God is just, we will never feel we need his grace. We have been amazed by God's justice and his subsequent mercy and grace. We pray that you, too, will know God's justice, mercy, and grace in your own life. We also pray that you will faithfully proclaim these truths about God to the world. God is not slow in keeping his promises as some interpret slowness. He is patient, longing to bring all to repentance.

Caleb Justus, we hope and pray that you will wholeheartedly take part in God's patient and just mission for your life and for this world.