Friday, January 10, 2014

WHAT DOES GOD'S NAME MEAN TO YOU?

    The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. -- Proverbs 18:10.
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    Every man's name is one of his most important treasures. Down through history names have always been symbolic of strengths and weaknesses in character of those to which they were applied. King Solomon's proverb concerning the name of God has been held in the hearts of countless Christians down through the centuries as a promise of divine help and protection in time of need.
    Most certainly, God wants us all to call upon him and is always ready to help us and make a difference in our lives when we call upon him.
    Many different names were applied to God in the Old Testament. They were all important in defining the characteristics of the Lord concerning a particular attribute of God. One such name, Elohim, referred to the true God as creator. In Genesis 17:1, God appeared to Abram as El Shaddai, or Almighty God. The Bible translator C. I. Schofield believed that "all-sufficent" would be the best translation of the name given to God numerous times in the earliest books of the Old Testament.
    In Exodus, Moses introduced the name of God as Jehovah, which means, I am, the eternal living one. The Jews became afraid to utter the name, fearing their mention of the name would cause them to be punished by death. Thus, the high priest pronounced it only once a year on the Day of Atonement.
    Actually, the Bible tells us in the Old Testament that God's name will be revealed. "Therefore the LORD himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)
    The prophecy was brought to pass in Matthew 1. An angel appeared unto Joseph and told him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife. "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shall call his name JESUS; for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." (Matthew 1:21-23)
    The Apostle Paul declared in Philippians 2:9-11: "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
    So, now the whole world should know God's most holy name. After all it was publicly announced to all by an angel from heaven. Be sure that God didn't look through Heaven and send a little boy down here to die for you. He came himself! He's a do-it-yourself God!

1 comment:

  1. In the last scripture you reference, there are two different persons. One of them has exalted the other. One is clearly in a subordinate position to the other.

    So, who exalted Jesus?

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