The Name of the Lord 9-25-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak Your name as the first word from my mouth this day. I turn my thoughts and heart to You and welcome the communion of Your Holy Spirit in the arms of my Father. ... As I scan through the passages of the gospels for Your name, I see that so often they speak Your name as they describe what You did: "Jesus said, Jesus went, Jesus healed, Jesus taught." When they would address You, they most often spoke to You by Your titles, "Rabbi, Teacher, Messiah, Master, Lord." As I look more closely, there are just a few times where someone spoke to You directly and simply called You by Your name, "Jesus." Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, shouted out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" (Mark 10:47). The thief on the cross cried out, "Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom" (Luke 23:42). The man tormented with an unclean spirit who lived among the tombs ran to You and bowed down before You, "and he shouted at the top of his voice, 'What have You to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?' " (Mark 5:6-7). It seems desperation of circumstances and unquestioning faith in who You are mark the times when You become the most personal to us -- when we focus on You and not just Your title or what You do. Awaken within us a deeply personal relationship with You, Jesus. Draw us beyond the impersonal titles we use at times to keep a little distance, even if we think that is from our sense of reverence or the fear of the Lord. Lord Jesus, You are a deeply personal God -- not a distant deity or an impersonal force. You have a name and it seems there are times when You want us to just speak Your name -- "Jesus" from the Greek, "Yeshua" from the Hebrew. You are the God who calls us Your "friends" (John 15:15). Though we reverence You and honor You in the fear of the Lord, we also worship You and adore You in the intimacy of a personal relationship of trusting faith. Let us not wait for desperate times to know You this way and to call You by name. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com