What’s in a Name?
Exodus 3:13-15 

Today, most people choose names for children based on their preferences, but in ancient times, a name characterized the person. When God identified Himself to Moses, He said, “I AM WHO I AM.” This may seem like a strange name to us, but in reality, it’s the most effective way to describe someone who is completely self-existent. In essence, He’s saying, “From eternity past through the present and into eternity future, I AM.” We know this rendering of God’s name as Jehovah or Yahweh. In most versions of the Bible, it is usually translated as “Lord” in capital letters.

Throughout Jewish history, God’s name was associated with His presence. When He led the children of Israel through the wilderness, He went with them as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Ex. 13:21). After they built the tabernacle, He met with Moses above the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant (25:22). God gave the Israelites visible, physical symbols to remind them of His everlasting presence with them.

When Joshua finally led the people into the Promised Land, the Lord gave him two promises: “I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you” and “The Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Josh. 1:5, 9).

What a great assurance to know that God will never leave His children, and nothing touches a believer without first touching Him. Our Father goes ahead of you and me to prepare the way and walks with us through every situation. Strive to be aware of His presence, and you will know peace

Seeing Face to Face  –  Friend, move up higher.

Luke 14:10

When the life of grace first begins in the soul, we instinctively draw near to God, but it is with great fear and trembling. The soul, conscious of guilt and humbled by it, is overawed with the solemnity of its position; it is prostrated by a sense of the grandeur of God, in whose presence it appears.

With sincere humility it takes the lowest room. But later on, as the Christian grows in grace, although he will never forget the solemnity of his position and will never lose that holy awe that must encompass a gracious man when he is in the presence of the God who can create or destroy, yet his fear has all its terror taken out of it; it becomes a holy reverence, and no longer an overshadowing dread.

He is called up higher, to greater access to God in Christ Jesus. Then the man of God, walking among the splendors of Deity and veiling his face like the glorious cherubim with those twin wings, the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ, will, reverent and bowed in spirit, approach the throne; and seeing there a God of love, goodness, and mercy he will realize the covenant character of God rather than His absolute Deity.

He will see in God His goodness rather than His greatness, and more of His love than of His majesty. Then the soul will bow just as humbly as before and enjoy a more sacred liberty of intercession; for while prostrate before the glory of the Infinite God, it will be sustained by the refreshing awareness of being in the presence of unlimited mercy and infinite love and by the realization of acceptance “in the Beloved.”1 In this way the believer is invited to come up higher and is enabled to exercise the privilege of rejoicing in God and drawing near to Him in holy confidence, crying, “Abba, Father.”

So may we go from strength to strength,

And daily grow in grace,

Till in Thy image raised at length,

We see Thee face to face.

1 Ephesians 1:6

The family reading plan for December 23, 2011

2 Chronicles 27 , 28 | Revelation 14