Pray up a storm — or rest in a calm?

 

Many of those on my prayer list do not call themselves Christian and show no sign of trusting Jesus Christ — for their salvation or in any way. They are unresponsive to spiritual conversation, not hostile but not interested. Today’s devotional reading is about having faith in God to do what He wants for their lives.

Because I trust God to take care of me, I can trust Him to take care of others, whether they believe or not. Not only did He send Jesus to die for them, but His sovereign care governs whatever happens in their lives.

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

Even if they presently do not believe, because God is “over all things” He is able to reach their hearts and as Jesus prayed: “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.” (John 17:6)

And I can pray to this end too, for He is able to do it: “May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 3:5)

After praying for many years for most of them, the Lord impresses these things on me, and that those people are far more loved by Him than I am. I cannot keep them in my care as well as He can keep them in His care. In being anxious for their salvation, am I any more anxious than God?!

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

The reading tells of a mother who was anxious for her unbelieving sons. Finally she realized God’s care was greater than her own and she “put those she loved into the fortress of God by faith and left them there, abandoning them to the care of God.” Her anxiety vanished and she was filled with perfect peace, sensing these sons were God’s sons now and no longer hers. Because He loved them far better than she could, He would care for them far more wisely and effectually. She was ready to do whatever He wanted, but became content to leave them in His hands.

This is not a copout. Anyone who prays for loved ones knows the pain of unanswered prayer, yet to stop caring is unthinkable. In this ‘trial of faith’ the answer seems to be to witness to them, do something, at least keep praying, yet this story shows that God can be looking for total trust rather than building persistence.

PRAY: Jesus, You tell me to share with others, to pray for them. To knock and keep knocking and the door will be opened, but You also tell me to be still and know You are God. In spiritual battles for the souls of people, there are times to say things, or to pray without ceasing, but also times to rest on Your promises and trust You to answer my prayers in the best time and the best possible way. Help me, and all those who pray, to know the difference and respond according to Your will.

Name above all Names

As I consider the titles, attributes and actions that define God, the next word on my list is overwhelming. It is His NAME or should I say NAMES!

While the OT word often refers to a given name, in the context of the ancient Near East it conveys much more. Names represented people in much the same way that idols were thought to represent the false gods. A name was a point of access, and naming or having knowledge of a name was thought to give one person power over another.

Besides that, Hebrew names were sometimes considered reflective of character and/or destiny. God even changed names (Abram to Abraham, Jacob to Israel) to reflect either a transformation in their relationship with Him or a prophetic heads-up of His plans for them. This renaming indicates His lordship and dominion over them.

Having a good name meant a person had integrity and would be remembered for a good reputation. Names for offspring were considered with care. We were delighted when our grandson and his wife named their first child Elias, a Hebrew word meaning “Jehovah is God.”

The OT proclaims many names for God. Some describe His divine attributes such as His healing power, His all-seeing ability, and His presence with us as “Immanuel”. At the burning bush, He told Moses that His name is YHWH or Yahweh, emphasizing His self-existence.

Other names refer to His power, that He is a refuge for His people, He is to be called upon, exalted, trusted and praised. To speak in the name of the Lord is to speak with his authority.

In the NT, one’s name is wrapped up with one’s person as well. In one For example, the sons of Sceva name the name of Jesus to try and cast out demons. In Acts 19:15 their efforts were answered when the evil spirit said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?”

The NT recognizes the power of Jesus’ name. Ephesians 1:20–21 declare that when the Father “worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion” Jesus was “above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.”

Jesus is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew Joshua. This name means “Jehovah saves”. This echoes the idea that the name represents the essence of a person. Jesus had this in mind when He changed Simon’s name to Peter (“hearing” to “rock”) and the sons of Zebedee to “Sons of Thunder”. Revelation 2:17 says those who overcome will be given new names indicating the power of Christ to not only change names but character.

In John 17:6, Jesus gave a reason for coming: “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.” Revealing His name was to reveal what God is like. Believers are baptized into the name of Jesus meaning we identify with Him in his death and resurrection. The NT also says healing and teaching were done in His name, and Christians are persecuted because of His name.

Matthew 10:22. and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. The name of Jesus is lovely to me and I realize its power. I’ve seen God work just because that name was used in prayer requests, to acknowledge He is Lord, and to declare that salvation is in His name only. In His precious name is my hope of eternal life and my experience of abundant life. If I say “God” then listeners have connotations that suit their idea of who God is, but that is rarely done when I use the name of Jesus. Blessed is His name, His powerful name!

Philippians 2:9–11. “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”