Praying the Names of God - June 7
From Praying the Names of Jesus Week Twenty-Five, Day Five
The Name
Without a Redeemer willing and able to pay the high price necessary to liberate us from the power of sin, the story of our lives in this world would be nothing but a story of hopelessness. But because of Christ's redemptive love, we look forward with hope to a day when the world itself will be completely liberated from the power of sin and death.
Until then we can express our faith in Christ by echoing the words of Scripture: "I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And . . . in my flesh I will see God" (Job 19:25-26).
Key Scripture
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. >Mark 10:45
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Friday
Promises Associated with His Name
I don't know about you, but sometimes I find it easy to relate to the people of Israel. Take the passage from Isaiah in which God calls his people by unflattering names. "O worm Jacob, O little Israel," he says (Isaiah 41:14). I felt just like that this morning after dealing poorly with a difficult situation. So wormlike, so little, so unable to rise to the occasion in the way I wanted to. Afterward, I felt defeated and depressed, but not too depressed to pray. I asked God to help me and steady me and cheer me up.
A partial answer to that prayer came in the shape of a man named Harvey whom I had hired to do some work on my home. A gregarious man, Harvey told me all about how God had saved him when he was a drug dealer many years ago. Now, in addition to having his own business, Harvey serves as the pastor of a local church. Before he left, Harvey asked if he could pray with me. Taking hold of my hand, he prayed for encouragement and wisdom and endurance, citing James 1. After he left, I read the whole chapter, and it spoke to me about my circumstances. In this way God was helping me in my littleness and in my wormlike weakness. Today let us ask God for the help he promises to give, remembering that the Holy One of Israel is our Redeemer. He is the God of all the earth.
Promises in Scripture
"Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob,
O little Israel,
for I myself will help you," declares the Lord,
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 41:14
For your Maker is your husband —
the Lord Almighty is his name —
the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;
he is called the God of all the earth.
Isaiah 54:5
But God will redeem my life from the grave;
he will surely take me to himself.
Psalm 49:15
There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. Luke 21:25-28
Continued Prayer and Praise
Remember God's faithful, redeeming love. (Exodus 12:12; Deuteronomy 7:8; 2 Samuel 7:22; Psalm 130:7-8; Jeremiah 50:33-34; Luke 1:67-75; Ephesians 1:3-10)
Live as though you have been redeemed. (Romans 12:1-2; Galatians 3:10-14; 4:1-7; Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 1:9-14; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 9:11; 1 Peter 1:17-20)
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Meet your spiritual ancestors as they really were: Less Than Perfect: Broken Men and Women of the Bible and What We Can Learn from Them.
