God’s Powerful Name
I believe I am beginning to feel gradually better. The nicer weather today helped. I did get out and went to the neighborhood pond and used the fishing pole my son gave me a few weeks ago. I also was able to get out and mow the lawn.
This afternoon, I returned to my Dermatologist to have my head stitches removed and for him to remove a less serious spot on my forearm. Tonight, I will head off to a homeowner association board meeting.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. Then God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” When you go to the people of Israel, tell them, ‘I am sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:14
This declaration of God to Moses about His identity and essence lays the foundation for the term the “Lord” God. It is also where the name “Jehovah” comes from. The all sufficient, the God who provides and will be what He needs to be to His people.
What is of interest we see when Jesus comes, He describes Himself with the term, “I am….” Consider the following “I am” statements of Jesus.
“I am the bread of life.” John 6:1
“I am the light of the world.” John 8:12
“I am the door.” John 10:7
“I am the Good Shepherd.” John 10:11
“I am the Resurrection and the Life.” John 11:25
“I am the way, the truth and the life.” John 14:6
Each of these describes an aspect of Jesus life and what He is for us. The totality of who God is and how we need to view Him is so comprehensive that we could put our own descriptor after “I am….” In our turmoil in life, He comes to us and says, “I am peace.” In our loneliness and need for acceptance He says, “I am love.” When we feel alone we need to hear Him say, “I am here.” When we need hope and a future, He says, “I am with you and will guide you.” If others forsake us, He says, “I am with you always.”
There are times in my life when I wasn’t sure what to pray or how to pray and would just say the name, “Jesus.” My Friend, Steve Harris put it well in the words of a chorus many years ago, “…There’s power in the name of Jesus; there’s healing, forgiveness, peace and rest, its all in the name of Jesus.”
One of the greatest manifestations of the power of Jesus name is when He was arrested in the garden. “Who are you looking for?” he asked.“Jesus the Nazarene,“ they replied. “I Am he….As Jesus said “I Am he,” they all drew back and fell to the ground! (John 18:4-6) When these officers were confronted with the declaration of Jesus as the Son of God, it overwhelmed them so much, they fell to the ground. When the “I am” spoke to Moses from the burning bush, he took off his sandals, because He was on holy ground. When those of old, found themselves in God’s presence they, fell on their faces before Him. Whether we fall down or are knock down, when we are exposed to the fullness of the “I am” it is overwhelming.
I am thankful that the “I am” is our God; and when we embrace Him through faith, we come to understand that all He is, He is for us.