Hmmmm. Interesting title. Raise your hand or nod your head if you're big on Shakespeare.
NEWSFLASH: I'm not but this is interesting.
SIDENOTE: I've been fasting this week for some things to move and my God how He's moving them. He's been revealing some things to me and He's just been God more than ever. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I had true intimacy with Him. I felt Him holding me safe in His arms and just loving me like a father loves his son. It felt so good to know He has been and always will be there for me.
With that being said, I was like Ok God, what are you saying? He was like read. Huh? You know me...
So I logged in on Facebook and I started reading like He said and I began to notice a few things. I noticed names. I started reading some of my friend's "usernames". Now, most people don't think twice about things online regarding usernames but I had to look into this. Now, I've been told that I read too deep into things but I say if I don't dig deep, who will? (insert smile here)
I did a little background check on the famous phrase "What's in a name?" because that's what I kept hearing after reading some usernames. According to enotes and Shakespeare, Juliet Capulet tells Romeo Montague that a name is an artificial and meaningless convention, and that she loves the person who is called "Montague", not the Montague name and not the Montague family. Romeo, out of his passion for Juliet, rejects his family name and vows, as Juliet asks, to "deny (his) father" and instead be "new baptized" as Juliet's lover.
Does anybody see anything wrong with what Romeo OR Juliet did? Let's take a few moments to get into this. I promise God's about to show you something..Follow me..
I love the fact that Juliet tells Romeo that she loves him for him and not because of his name but I don't believe names are artificial. However, I think we need more authentic love in the world today. Many people "love" to advance themselves. In the Kingdom, that's a no-no.
"Romeo, out of his PASSION for Juliet, REJECTS his family name..." (emphasis mine).
Passion - an emotion applied to a very strong feeling about a person or thing. Passion is an intense emotion compelling feeling, enthusiasm, or desire for something.
Reject - to refuse to accept, consider, submit to, take for some purpose, or use.
Here we have these two young people fiercely in love whose familes are warring with each other. They are pretty much willing to do anything for each other. Let's go a little deeper...
Shakespeare was a Catholic. Catholics believe in the Trinity and the Bible. I'm a Good Ole Baptist. I believe in the Trinity and the Bible. What does this mean, Rashaad? It means "Romeo and Juliet" was modeled after the first couple of the Bible, Adam and Eve. I think Shakespeare was using Romeo and Juliet to do more than entertain. Rashaad, how does Romeo and Juliet compare to Adam and Eve? If you have a few more moments, I'll let you in...
After Adam ate of the fruit, he died. After Romeo drank the poison, he died. Both deaths were tragic although Adam's death was spiritual not physical.
Adam, out of his PASSION for his wife Eve, REJECTED his family name...
Let's delve into the last half of what was happening with the two crossed lovers...
"...and vows, as Juliet asks, to "deny (his) father" and instead be "new baptized" as Juliet's lover."
It's quite simple. As Juliet asks to deny his father, so Eve did when she gave Adam the fruit to eat. Hmmm. Most people would say the woman makes man do crazy things. I'd like to say man is capable of making his own decisions. It was Adam's love for his wife that made him go against his Father's will and be joined as one with Eve...
Some people may have left this blog by now but if you're still here this is what I believe God is saying:
Be careful with what/who you put your name with. Everything that you love is not to be a part of you. Sounds a bit contradictory to me but it's true. Adam came from wealth because of God's original plan for His children in the Garden of Eden. Adam fell for something else that he loved and because of that, he was dismissed and cut off from his inheritance. Don't become an Adam. Watch what you put your name in and watch who you are associated with. God says don't get caught up on people and things that you forget about who created you and the purpose in which you were sent to accomplish.
Take time everyday to thank God for creating you and ask Him to continue to keep you rooted and grounded in His word. The devil comes to steal your identity, kill your mind spiritually, and destroy the beautiful relationship you have with your Heavenly Father. Let's fight the devil together by staying Prayed Up!!!
Until the next time...I'm
Dreaming In Him,
Rashaad
