1. The Good Shepherd Knows My Name
"1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine." John 10:1-4 and 11-14
Susanna sings the song, "He Knows My Name", written by Kelly and Annie McRae and it has been playing in the back of my mind for quite some time. It reminds me of these verses in John 10. Jesus is my Good Shepherd and "He calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out." We just finished looking at the things God did during creation and saw how great and powerful our God is, but even in all His glory, He knows my name!
"He counts the stars one and all
He knows how much sand is on the shore
He sees every sparrow that falls
He made the mountain and the seas
He's in control of everything
Of all creatures great and small
CHORUS
He knows my name
Every step that I take
Every move that I make
Every tear that I cry
And He knows my name
When I'm overwhelmed by the pain
And can't see the light of day
I know I'll be just fine
Cause He knows my name
I don't know what tomorrow will bring
I can't tell you what's in store
I don't know a lot of things
I don't have all the answers to the questions of life
But I know in whom I believe
CHORUS
He knew who I was when he carried the cross
He knew that I would fail him but he took the loss
CHORUS
Every step that I make
Every move that I make
Every tear that I cry
And he knows my name"
2. Moses - When God Calls Your Name, You Are On Holy Ground
"1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God." Exodus 3:1-6
As we begin our new devotionals, "He Knows My Name", let's look at some of the people in the Bible whom God called by name. Perhaps the most well known example is Moses at the burning bush. Moses fled from Egypt and found himself on the backside of the desert with a flock of sheep. They weren't even his sheep. "God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground... And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God." Something that I think we fail to see in our generation is that when God calls our name, we are on holy ground. Look at Joshua 5:14, "And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship..." Now notice Daniel 8:17, "So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face:..." We also see Ezekiel trying to explain the glory of the Lord in Ezekiel 1:28. "As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face..." All of these great men recognized that they were on holy ground and hid their faces from the glory of the Lord. When we see God is His glory, we will see ourselves in our low estate. I am reading in the book of Numbers this week and I came to Numbers 12:3, "(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)" The next few verses give us an insight on why Moses was the meekest man on earth. "And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?" (Numbers 12:5-8) Moses saw the glory of the Lord, and that showed him how small man is.
3. Saul - When The Lord Calls Your Name, Answer
"1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do." Acts 9:1-6
Just like our examples yesterday, here we see Saul, whom we know as Paul, fall on his face when the Lord called his name. "And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" We see two parts in Saul's response. First he made sure who was calling. There are many religions in the world, but there is only one true and living God who speaks to our hearts. After he knew that it was the Lord he answered, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" I guess there could be no greater response to the Lord's call. I pray that I can always be willing to answer, "Lord, what would you have me do?"
4. Samuel - Sometimes The Lord Calls A Child
"1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.
6 And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.
8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.
9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth." I Samuel 3:1-10
When my children were small this was their favorite Bible story. We would often let them act out the parts of little Samuel and Eli. They would lay down and pretend they were asleep and Mike would call, "Samuel, Samuel". I can still hear their little voices... "Eli, Eli, was that you calling me?" "No, Samuel, go back to sleep." Hannah prayed for a son and when God heard and answered her prayer she took Samuel to the temple where he served the Lord as a little child. "And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men." (I Samuel 2:26) Samuel was just a child when God first called to him, and he went on to become a great prophet in Israel, anointing King Saul and King David, the first two kings of Israel. It is wonderful when a child answers God's call of salvation at an early age and devotes his or her life to living for the Lord!
5. Abraham - We May Grow Old, But God Will Never Forget
"1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,
4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee." Genesis 17:1-6
Abram was 75 years old when God promised to make of him a great nation and make him a blessing. Abram leaves his country in search of the Promised Land and 24 years later, at the age of 99, he is still waiting for the promised son. God speaks to Abram again and as a token of His promise He changes his name from Abram, to Abraham. God did not forget Abraham. God did not forget his promise. This is encouraging to us because we can claim God's promises to us and know that He will always be true to His Word. "Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever." (Psalms 119:160)
6. Jeremiah - God Called Jeremiah Before He Was Born
"4 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
9 Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.
10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.
11 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.
12 Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it." Jeremiah 1:4-12
Some may think it unusual that God called to Samuel as a child, but here we see in the beginning of the book of Jeremiah that God actually called him to be a prophet before he was born! Jeremiah questioned His call, "Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child." God put His Words in Jeremiah's mouth and sent him to a people who would not listen. (Jeremiah 7:27) They actually rebelled against Jeremiah's message and put him in stocks and prison. At one point Jeremiah was ready to give up, but the Word of God burned in his soul. "Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay." (Jeremiah 20:9) Take courage from the life of Jeremiah and keep on keeping on. Stay true to God's Word. Don't quit giving out the gospel message, even when it seems that no one is listening. We are not accountable to how others respond, but "... it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful." (I Corinthians 4:2) Stay faithful to His call.
There are at least 8 men in the Bible whom God named before they were born. Which ones to you remember?
7. Jesus - Emanuel, God With Us
"And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." Luke 1:30-33
The first and most important in our list of men named before they were born is Jesus. The angel Gabriel was sent to the virgin Mary announcing that she would be the mother of the Christ child. He told Mary to name the baby Jesus. Joseph was also told that the Baby would be named Jesus.
"18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 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 1:18-23)
Isaiah was one of many prophets who had prophesied of His birth in the Old Testament. "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) "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this." (Isaiah 9:6-7) Jesus, the only begotten Son of God came and gave His life for you and me, just as promised.
8. John The Baptist - Prepared The Way For The Lord
"13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.
64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God." Luke 1:13-20 & 62-64
Many are familiar with the story of John the Baptist from the Christmas story, the birth of Jesus. Isaiah prophesied of John as "The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God." (Isaiah 40:3) Around 700 years passed before the birth of John. The angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias and told him that he would have a son and his name was John. Just as John prepared the hearts of the people for the coming of the Lord Jesus over 2,000 years ago, we need to be voices crying out in this wilderness today that Jesus is coming again!
9. Ishmael and Isaac - Two Nations That Descended From Abraham
"10 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
11 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
12 And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren." Genesis 16:10-12
"15 And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.
16 And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.
17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?
18 And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!
19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation." Genesis 17:15-20
God promised Abraham a son and after 10 years in the land of Canaan, Sarah, Abraham's wife, told him to have a child with her mistress, Hagar. Sarah dealt harshly with Hagar and she fled, but the angel of the Lord told her to go back to Sarah and that she would have a son and name him Ishmael. Abraham was 86 when Ishmael was born. (Genesis 16:16) When Abraham was 99 years old God again told him that he would have a son and name him Isaac. The firstborn received the inheritance in Bible days, but God told Abraham to send Ishmael away and Isaac was to receive all his inheritance. This was hard for Abraham who said, "O that Ishmael might live before thee!" After the death of Sarah, Abraham took Keturah as his wife and had many more sons, but he also sent them away. (Genesis 25:1-6) God made His covenant with Isaac and all of Abraham's inheritance went to Isaac. We do not read of Ishmael and Isaac being together again until the death of Abraham, at 175 years of age. "Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people. And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;" (Genesis 25:8-9) The great nations of Abraham still fight against each other today, just as the flesh fights against the spirit.
10. Solomon - We Pray That Our Children Carry On The Work Of The Lord
"5 And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the LORD must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.
6 Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build an house for the LORD God of Israel.
7 And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God:
8 But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.
9 Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days.
10 He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.
11 Now, my son, the LORD be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the LORD thy God, as he hath said of thee.
12 Only the LORD give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the LORD thy God." I Chronicles 22:5-12
David wanted to build a house for God, and Nathan the prophet told him "Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee." (II Samuel 7:3) But, God said no. I am sure that David was disappointed that God would not allow him to build this great house for God. God told David that He would build him a house and his kingdom would be established for ever. David said, "Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?" (II Samuel 7:18) God told King David that he would have a son, named Solomon, and he would build the great temple for the Lord God of Israel. As we grow older, we may look back on our lives and see where we failed to accomplish the things for God that we had hoped. Though we may have pride in some things, most of us would have to say like David, "Who am I, O Lord God?" What have we done for the Lord that will live on after we are gone? We often fall short in serving the Lord. And just as David encouraged his son, Solomon, to accomplish those things which he could not, we encourage our children to follow God and serve Him. I can truly say in my heart, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." (III John 1:4)
11. Josiah - An Evil King Hears The Prophecy Of A Good King
"1 And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.
2 And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee.
3 And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.
4 And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Bethel, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him.
5 The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD.
6 And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the LORD thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king's hand was restored him again, and became as it was before." I Kings 13:1-6
When we look at this prophecy given to King Jereboam about a coming king of Israel, it is good to know that Josiah was not born until around 300 years later. After King Solomon died the kingdom was split and King Jereboam reigned over the Northern Kingdom of Israel, while Rehoboam, the son of Solomon reigned over Judah, the southern kingdom. Jereboam did not want the people to return to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the Lord, so he made two calves of gold and set one in Bethel and the other in Dan. The fulfilled prophecy of the scriptures above can be seen in II Kings 23:15-16. "Moreover the altar that was at Bethel, and the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, had made, both that altar and the high place he brake down, and burned the high place, and stamped it small to powder, and burned the grove. And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the sepulchres that were there in the mount, and sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchres, and burned them upon the altar, and polluted it, according to the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words." Josiah began his reign at eight years old following the death of his father, King Amon, and grandfather King Manasseh, who were two very wicked kings. The life and reign of Josiah brought a temporary ray of hope to Israel and can be summed up in II Kings 23:25 "And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him."
12. My Good Shepherd Knows Me And I'm Safe And Secure In His Hand
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." John 10:27-29
I am taking a different thought today as I ask you to pray for the family of Tammi Smith. This young mother leaves behind a loving husband and four lovely daughters, parents, and brothers with their families. It is so hard to understand when God calls a loved one home, but for those who know the Lord as their personal Savior, there is a better place in heaven. Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." We are safe and secure in the hand of our Lord, and even more so, we are safe in the hand of our Almighty God and Father! It is comforting to know that we will meet again when the Lord calls us home and we will have all eternity to spend in heaven together with all our Christian brothers and sisters.
13. Cyrus - God Is Not Surprised By World Leaders
"That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid." Isaiah 44:28
Cyrus was the Persian ruler who ruled after the Babylonian empire and we can read of him in the books of II Chronicles, Ezra, Isaiah, and Daniel. The divisions of our Bible today are not chronological and it is sometimes hard to put the actions of the Bible into the correct time periods. We read of Isaiah's prophecy that Cyrus would build the temple and lay the foundation of Jerusalem. We see this fulfilled in the closing chapter of II Chronicles and first chapter of Ezra. We may not think about it being 200 years before it actually happened. "Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem." (Ezra 1:1-3) My thought for today is praise that God is in control and He is not surprised by the actions of world leaders. Daniel, who purposed in his heart not to defile himself, Daniel, who interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar's dream and saved the lives of all the wise men of Babylon, Daniel, who was thrown into a den of lions, Daniel understood this great truth. "Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him." (Daniel 2:20-22)
14. Mahershalalhashbaz - What's In A Name?
"1 Moreover the LORD said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Mahershalalhashbaz.
2 And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.
3 And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the LORD to me, Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz.
4 For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria." Isaiah 8:1-4
We have come to the last person that I found in the Bible named before he was born. You may not be happy with your name, but I doubt it is as unusual as Mahershalalhashbaz. At that time the meaning behind a person's name was very important. God told Isaiah to give his son this name and according to my Scofield Study Bible it means, "haste ye, haste ye to the spoil." Jacob carried the name of a cheater until God changed his name to Israel, "a prince with God". Abram went from being a "high father" to Abraham, "father of many nations." We read in Revelation 2:17 that we will one day have a new name. "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." Have you ever wondered what name you will be given for eternity? It would be wonderful to have a name that means, "compassionate", or "faithful", or "steadfast". As you look over your life, think about what your new name might say about you. "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold." (Proverbs 22:1)
15. Lazarus - "Come Forth"
"41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him." John 11:41-45
I have just returned from the funeral home, where there were scores of people waiting in line to comfort the grieving family. We carry on this tradition to try to help ease the sorrow and pain caused by death. In our scripture reference here we see the people gathered at the home of Mary and Martha offering their comfort after the death of their brother, Lazarus. Can you imagine their thoughts when Jesus told them to roll the stone away? Martha said, "Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days." (John 11:39) Jesus prayed to the Father and cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth." I am sure all the visitors had their eyes on the tomb, as Lazarus did indeed come forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes. One day the Lord is going to call my name and I am going home to heaven. I believe the Lord is going to call all His children home soon, and I may go up in the rapture. If not, I will go by the grave. But, either way... when the Lord calls my name then I am going home. And I have this everlasting peace that I will be reunited with all my saved family and friends and ever be with my wonderful Lord.
16. Zacchaeus - Does The Lord Abide At Your House?
"1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully." Luke 19:1-6
It is wonderful to go to the house of the Lord on the Lord's day! We are truly blessed to live where we have the freedom to praise and worship the Lord our God in the fellowship of our Christian brothers and sisters. As I thought on this, I decided it was a good day to look at Zacchaeus. This is a familiar story to many who learned the little song as children. Zacchaeus sought to see Jesus, and he found Him! Zacchaeus climbed a tree looking for Jesus and found that Jesus knew his name and was looking for him. It thrilled him when Jesus said, "Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house." He "joyfully" received the Lord into his home and he found salvation. "And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:9-10) Have you sought the Lord? Does the Lord abide at your house? Have you found salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ? We are all born in a lost, sinful condition with no merit on our own to buy forgiveness. But Jesus, God's precious Son, came down from heaven to give His life to pay for our sin. I pray today that you will not only go to the Lord's house, but that you will invite Him to yours.
17. Mary - Found Favor With God
"And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God." Luke 1:30
As we continue with our theme, "He Knows My Name", we are looking at men and women in the Bible whom the Lord called by name. Here we have Mary, chosen to be the mother of Jesus. This verse tells us that she "found favour with God." What an amazing love, that we could find favor with God. I say we, because I know John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." I say we because I believe Romans 5:8, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." God found favor with Mary and called her to be the mother of our Lord. But it goes way back to the beginning when God found favor with man and promised a Savior. Oh, what love!
18. Elijah - "What Doest Thou Here, Elijah?"
"9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
15 And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:" I Kings 19:9-15
Elijah was a great prophet of God who destroyed the prophets of Baal in a great victory. Afterward he fled for his life from wicked Queen Jezebel and was ready to give up on life, but God was not ready to give up on Elijah. God sent an angel to feed Elijah and let him rest a while then He asked, "What doest thou here, Elijah?" Elijah could not find God in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but found Him in "a still small voice." Sometimes we look for the Lord in super-natural forces, when we should be listening for "a still small voice." Take time today to ask yourself, "What am I doing here?" Are we working for the Lord? God had a big departure planned for Elijah in a chariot of fire, but he wasn't finished with his tasks here on earth. We get tired and weary in this troubled world, but God has big plans for us that will last forever and ever. Let's stay faithful and occupy till He comes.
19. Bezaleel - Are We Using Our Talents For The Lord?
"And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship." Exodus 31:1-5
Yesterday we looked at the great prophet Elijah, who did great things for God. We often view Bible men and women as being almost super-human with special characteristics that made them better than we could ever be. James 5:17 tells us that Elijah was a man just like men today. "Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months." In our verses above we see that God called Bezaleel by name and gave him wisdom for all the workmanship of the tabernacle. I believe he was just an ordinary man who was willing to be used of God and God used him. I have often heard that the best ability is availability. I know many people who have greater talents than I have and I often feel like they could do a better job working for the Lord. But, even though my talents may be small, I try to give them to the Lord. He understands, for He is the One who gave me the talents in the first place. You may have a talent for workmanship as Bezaleel. Pray that God will show you how to use that talent for the Lord. God may have given you a talent for singing or teaching. Are you singing for the Lord or teaching His Word? You may feel like you have no great talents, but if you make yourself available and give yourself to God, I think He will give you something to do for His Kingdom.
20. Aaron - A Brother To Help
"10 And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.
11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?
12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.
13 And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.
14 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.
15 And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.
16 And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God." Exodus 4:10-16
When the Lord asked Isaiah, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Isaiah responded "Here am I; send me." (Isaiah 6:8) I am afraid that many of us are more like Moses, "O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue." I confess that I often hesitate to speak to others about the Lord, looking for the right words, and then the moment passes and I lose the opportunity. Moses was brought up in the Egyptian palace and had the best schooling of that time, but maybe he had trouble with the Hebrew language, and felt "slow of speech". God sent his brother, Aaron, to help him. There have been times in my life when I was overwhelmed by situations and at just the right time God sent a Christian brother or sister to help me. In II Kings 3:11 we find King Jehoshaphat looking for a prophet "And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah." Elisha began as a servant who helped Elijah wash his hands and he received a double portion and became a great prophet, performing twice as many miracles as Elijah. Let's be thankful for all the people God sends along to help us, and even more so, let's be a faithful help to those who have a need.
21. Martha - Troubled About Many Things
"Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." Luke 10:38-42
I enjoy having people over to visit. I like to cook and I enjoy the fellowship we have during a meal. When my five children were small I would get really stressed out each time we invited people over because I never seemed to have enough time to get the house clean and have the meal ready at the right time. I can understand how Martha was "careful and troubled about many things." Jesus was a guest in her home. And since the verse says that she was "cumbered about much serving" I think there were many others present. It is easy to put too much emphasis on the physical things in life, when we really need to concentrate on the spiritual aspects. There are times to serve others,and God will bless our faithfulness, but there are also times to sit at Jesus' feet in worship. Remember those words of our Lord. "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:1-3)
22. Daniel - When The Answers To Our Prayers Are Delayed
"2 In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.
3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
4 And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;
5 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:
6 His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude...
9 Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.
10 And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.
11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.
12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days." Daniel 10:2-6 & 10-14
Have you ever prayed and felt like your prayers were not answered? Daniel prayed in mourning and did not receive an answer for three whole weeks. Finally a holy being appeared to him and told him that he had been sent on the first day "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me." We don't think about how strong the powers of Satan and the powers of this world are. Paul told the church at Ephesus, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:10-12) I believe we are living in the last days and if we knew how great the battles were between good and evil we would be afraid to leave our homes. Keep praying, even when you can't find an answer. Keep trusting in the Lord. He hears and answers our prayers and has promised never to leave us nor forsake us.
23. Jesus Christ - A Name Above Every Name
"5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:5-11
As we begin our last week on "He Knows My Name" I want to look at some of the things that the Word of God has to say about the name of Jesus. It disturbs me to hear someone use the name of my precious Lord Jesus Christ in vain. Exodus 20:7 gives a warning to those who do. "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." The time will come when every knee shall bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. But for those who have already passed from this life into eternity it will be too late to receive God's gift of an eternal home in heaven. Don't wait. Don't delay. Jesus said, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 10:32-33) Believe on Him today! "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:9-10)
24. He's In The Midst
"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Matthew 18:20
Oh what a promise! The Lord Jesus said, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." It is such a blessing to have a place where we can worship the Lord in fellowship with other Christian believers. I am so thankful for our church. I am thankful that the Lord has provided pastors to lead us and feed us from His Word. Welcome back Pastor Jack Tripp. If you live in the Archdale area of North Carolina, I would like to invite you to visit Pine Grove Baptist Church, 6308 Modlin Grove Road. The Lord is welcome in our midst and so are you!
25. "Do All In The Name Of The Lord Jesus"
"12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." Colossians 3:12-17
Here in the little book of Colossians the Apostle Paul is giving advice to the church about Christian living. We would do well to read the epistles to the early churches and apply the scriptures not only to our churches but to everyday living. These laws of kindness, mercy, meekness and longsuffering exemplify the fruit of the Spirit and help us grow in the Lord. Sometimes we have questions about things we should or should not do and we can't find those specific examples in the Bible because those things did not exist in Bible times. What do we do then? Colossians 3:17 gives us a good verse to live by. "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." The next time a question comes to your mind about whether you should do a certain thing or not, ask yourself if you can do it "in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." After we are saved the Holy Spirit lives in our heart and should be seen as a light shining through our lives. The clothes we wear, the places we go, the things we say and do should all reflect the Light of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul continues, "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ." (Colossians 3:23-24)
26. No Other Name To Find Salvation Than Jesus Christ
"Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole... Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:10 &12
I once heard a very prominent talk show host on television tell her audience that it did not matter what or who you believe in, just as long as you have faith in what you believe. If that were the case we would do just as well to believe in the great pumpkin like Linus on Charlie Brown. But nothing could be farther from the truth. People accuse Christians of being close-minded and thinking their way is the only right way. Well, they are right! There is no other way to find salvation than through the blood shed on the cross and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We can find more verses which verify the truth of the verses above. "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Acts 2:21) "He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:11-13) "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13) "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:16-18)
27. O LORD, How Excellent Is Thy Name!
"1 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!" Psalms 8
Psalm 8 is one of my favorite Psalms. Listen as David gives all honor to the name of the Lord. "O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens." Experience the humility and lowliness of man compared to the glory of the heavens. "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour." Praise the Lord with a thankful heart "For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen." (Romans 11:36) "O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!"
28. Trusting In His Name
"The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee." Psalms 9:9-10
A refuge in times of trouble... that's what we need today. It seems as though everyone is facing some kind of trouble. Some are facing the troubles of sickness, and even death to those near and dear. Others are going through financial storms with the unemployment rate rising. Some parents have trouble with wayward children, while others carry the burden of feeble parents. I am reminded of the words of Paul in II Corinthians 4:8-10 & 17-18. "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body... For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." The Lord is our refuge and He will never forsake His own, as we see in His last words here on earth. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:19-20) "I am with you alway..." Oh, what a promise!
29. How Sad To Hear Him Say, "I Never Knew You"
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matthew 7:21-23
This is our final entry on "He Knows My Name". I have enjoyed looking at specific people in the Bible whom the Lord called by name to see how their examples can help us live a better Christian life. We also looked at some of the scriptures about the name of the Lord. Today we have the sad, but realistic truth that not every one who claims to know the Lord is a child of God. If these verses were true in the days when Jesus walked on earth, and people could see the miracles, and eat of the loaves and fish, how much greater can this sad fate be today? There are many people today who say they are Christians and they have never trusted in the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior. Don't put your faith in living a "good" life, or baptism, or church membership. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) God is a holy God and we can't go to heaven in our sinful condition. Jesus came from heaven to die on the cross to pay for our sins. He was buried and rose again the third day. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:16-18) I pray that you will believe on the Lord Jesus as your Savior today, before it is too late. If you know the Lord as your Savior, share the news that Jesus Saves!
He Knows My Name
