No mere name . . .

Many lyrics in Christian music refer to the power of Jesus’ name. While too often we glibly tack “in Jesus’ name” at the end of our prayers, this should not be done without thought or understanding why it should be done. Part of the reason is that we speak to our Father representing His Son.

There is more but today I’m thinking of the power connection. As an ordinary believer I’ve experienced several instances of this power. One of them involved a young woman who was obsessed with killing herself, but at the direct use of the name of Jesus, she was set free and visibly so.

The Word of God has double meaning. Jesus is the “word of God made flesh” and the Bible is also the Word of God. The written Word is said to have power much like that of the ‘living Word’ and when we read it, it changes our lives. The following passage calls the Word “living and abiding” with the ability to endure forever, even into eternity:

(Jesus) was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you. (1 Peter 1:20–25, italics mine)

These few verses excite me because they connect the Word with two realities. On one hand, it was the good news that was preached to me and caused me to be spiritually reborn into the kingdom of God. This Word and the living Word, Jesus, are the cause and foundation of my salvation. By them I am given new life and eternal life.

On the other hand, this Word of God is also eternal, imperishable, living and abiding, remaining forever without any notion that it will wither away, be destroyed, die off, or leave. In other words, the salvation given by the eternal Word is also eternal and secure, forever existing and forever mine.

I have a friend who does not take lightly the power of Jesus’ name when she prays. When I had some minor pain, she put her hands on the place that hurt and prayed in the name of Jesus that it would go away. It did. She prays for other things with such authority that I shiver listening to her.

In the busyness of life, it’s easy to skip over the most profound thoughts. This is one of them. The Word of God is forever. Implanted and giving new life, it remains forever. It was spoken in the beginning to create the world. It remains in power over all that it created. The Word can do anything and cannot be stopped. It makes human effort look like baby talk and a far cry from the talk and the power that comes from the Lord’s heart and mouth . . .

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10–11)

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Lord Jesus, far too many Christians, never mind the general masses, are unaware of its power and seldom open the pages of Your written Word, never mind calling on You daily and in every situation of life. Your power is there, in Your name, in Your Word, in the life that You gave Your people. It is endless and unstoppable. May You continually remind me of both that great power and my total need for it.

Today’s thankful list . . .

- the joy of knowing the Word of God, Jesus and what God had written for us.

- the assurance that this is an eternal Word and can do whatever God sends it to do.

- finally getting back to some resemblance of normal life.

- my personal trainer and the exercises she takes me through.

- being outside in fresh air that is getting crispy.

- hubby’s health makes a liar out of his blood tests.

- being called upon to pray for others.