This is the twenty-seventh in a series of Lenten devotionals by a group of Anglican bloggers and friends. Today’s entry is by Lent & Beyond’s own Jill Woodliff. You can read other entries in the series here.
——
3-24-06
Ps 95,88,91,92
Gen 47:1-26
1 Cor 9:16-27
Mark 6:47-56
It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High. Psalm 92:1
Anyone who traffics the pages of Holy Scripture cannot escape the conclusion that names are important in the spiritual realm. Hagar, Abraham, Moses, Mary, Joseph, Cornelius, and Paul had transcendent encounters that each began with being called by name. A few extraordinary persons had their name changed—Abraham, Sarah, Peter, and Paul. John the Baptist, and Jesus were named before conception.
Jesus’ greatest miracle begins with ‘Lazarus,’ and his first recorded post-resurrection word is ‘Mary.’ Even the demons’ names appear to be important. Jesus addresses the Gerasene demoniac, What is your name?
All of this pales into oblivion, though, before God’s name. God’s name is manifold. I once counted over forty names for Jesus in the book of Revelation. Our finite language is so inadequate in speaking of the Infinite, it is natural that we would resort to many names and that our praise would use them to magnify God’s many attributes.
However, God’s name cannot be contained within the natural realm. God’s name is holy.
You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. Exodus 20:7
Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. Deuteronomy 10:20
Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. John 17:11-12
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19
I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. 1 John 2:12
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth. Philippians 2:9-10
Dear Christians, we are called by His name, this name above every name. Let us bow our knees and circumcise our hearts. Let us humble ourselves before God and turn from our wicked ways. May God’s eyes be open and His ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place (2 Chr 7:14). May He forgive our sins and heal His church. May the yoke of His supernatural name to our mortal frames strengthen us to comprehend the breadth and length and depth and height of the love of Christ that we might be filled with all the fullness of God (Eph 3:14-19).
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. For later reading