Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. John 8:58
Devotional Reading
This month we will reflect on the Promises Associated with the Names of Jesus, and the Names of God. The devotional study is by Ann Spangler, Bestselling Author of Praying the Names of Jesus, and Praying the Names of God. In the Introduction of her book, “Praying the Names of Jesus,” Ann Spangler states. “Praying the Names of Jesus will lead readers into a richer and more rewarding relationship with Christ by helping them to understand and pray his names on a daily basis. By understanding the biblical context in which these names and titles were revealed, readers will gain a more intimate knowledge of Jesus and his plan for their lives. As you read scriptures remember that Jesus wants to nourish you – to share his life with you. Take time to meditate on what you are reading, asking his Spirit to give you understanding. As you meditate on God's Word, remember that meditation simply means to ponder or to chew on something. Instead of going away hungry, ask God to help you feed on his Word, to let it satisfy your longings and fill up your empty places.”
· Praying the Names of God - Copyright ©2004 Ann spangler
· Praying the Names of Jesus - Copyright © 2006 Ann spangler
** Unless otherwise indicated, Scriptures are taken from Bible Gateway King James version (KJV)
Day 1 – I AM
· Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. John 8:58
In Jesus we have the richest, most vivid picture of God imaginable. No longer does God seem implacably remote, displeased with the world he has made. Instead, he bends towards us, sharing our weakness and shouldering our burdens. Through the perfect offering of his life, he becomes our way back to the father. He is a true vine in which we abide, bearing fruit for God's Kingdom. He is a loving God who will never abandon us, but Will be present with us always, leading us to life eternal. Jesus, who names means “Yahweh is Salvation,” is the great I AM – the one who is always present with us whether or not we recognize him. Whatever difficulties you may face, whatever storms may threaten, pray for the grace to have eyes and ears wide open so that you may perceive the Lord saying, “Take courage! I AM.”
· Some scholars think that by saying “I AM WHO I AM” God was saying he would always to be present with his people. How have you experienced God’s faithful presence in your life?
Day 2 – IMMANUEL
· All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.” Matthew 1:22–23
The name “Immanuel” appears twice in the Hebrew Scriptures and once in the New Testament. One of the most comforting of all the names and titles of Jesus, it is literally translated “with us is God” or, as Matthew’s Gospel puts it, “God with us.” When our sins made it impossible for us to come to him, God took the outrageous step of coming to us, of making himself susceptible to sorrow, familiar with temptation, and vulnerable to sin’s disruptive power, in order to cancel its claim. In Jesus we see how extreme God’s love is. Remember this the next time you feel discouraged, abandoned, or too timid to undertake some new endeavor. For Jesus is still Immanuel—he is still “God with us.” What difficulties are you facing? Chronic illness? Troubled children? A broken marriage? Financial hardship? Take a moment today to stop imagining yourself surrounded by all your difficulties and instead begin to envision yourself as you really are—surrounded by the presence of your faithful God. Invoke his name—Immanuel. Decide today to do everything in your power to follow him. Then ask for his peace, pray for his protection, and open your life to his power.
· What does it mean to say that God is with us?
· How can embracing God's presence make a difference in your life today?
Day 3 – LIGHT OF THE WORLD
· Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12
According to Jewish tradition, one of the names for the Messiah is “Light.” How fitting then, that Jesus is called the “Light of the world.” John's Gospel portray Jesus as the light that vanquishes the darkness brought on by sin – a darkness that ends in death. Christ has opened the eyes of a sin-darken world to the truth of the gospel. We who believe in him have moved from darkness to light, from death to life. When we pray to Jesus is the light of the world, let us remember that we are calling on the one who was so determined to draw us into his life that he spent nine months in the darkness of his mother's womb and in order to become one of us. Let us ask Jesus, our Light, to make a shine with his reflected glory.
· Have you ever felt you were living through a time of darkness? Describe what it felt like
· Have you experienced Jesus as light? If so, how?
Day 4 – CHILD
· 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. Isaiah 9:6
A child was always at the heart of the biblical covenant. Already in the garden of Eden God promised that Eve's offspring would crush the head of the serpent, who beguiled her. Later God made a covenant with Abraham, promising that Sarah would bear him a child who would be the first of countless descendants. Then Isaiah spoke of a child who would be born of virgin and be given the name “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” The New Testament tells of the fulfillment of that promise, and Jesus presents children as the model for his followers to emulate. The only way to enter the Kingdom is with the humility and trust of little children.
· Are there areas in your walk, that you need to become more like the little children Jesus spoke about?
Day 5 – BREAD IF LIFE
· And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6:35
Without bread no one in ancient Palestine would have survived for long. So, it seems entirely reasonable for Jesus, in what has become known as the Lord's Prayer, to instruct his disciples to pray for their daily. Yet the Lord also challenged his followers not to work for food that spoils, announcing himself as the only food that would enable them to live forever. In fact, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, which means “house of bread.” After feeding five thousand people with only five loaves of bread and two fish, he shocked his listeners by declaring: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” (John 6:53).
· This week, as you seek to understand what it means that Jesus is the Bread of Life, ask him to show you exactly what it means to feed on him
Day 6 – PHYSICIAN
· 35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Matthew 9:35-36
Jesus is the greatest of all physicians, and he performed more healings than any other kind of miracle. Nothing stumped him – not blindness, craziness, lameness, deafness, or even death. Every ailment yielded to his undeniable power, and every healing served as evidence that his Kingdom was breaking into our falling world. When you pray for healing for yourself or others, remember that God never sends sickness, though he sometimes allows us to become sick. Indeed, scripture sees sickness and death as byproducts of sin. And it was to solve the sin problem that Jesus came into the world. When you pray for healing, remember that Jesus is always your ally, always wanting what is best for you and for those you care about.
· If you are suffering physically or emotionally, ask for the grace today to put your faith in God rather than a particular outcome
Day 7 – LAMB, LAMB OF GOD
· The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29
Though it is one of the most tender images of Christ in the New Testament, the phrase “Lamb of God” would have conjured far more disturbing pictures to those who heard John the Baptist hailed Jesus with these words. Hadn’t many of them, at one time or another, carried one of their own lambs to the altar to be slaughtered as a sacrifice for their sins, a lamb that they had fed and bathed, the best animal in their small flock? Hadn't the bloody sacrifice of an innocent animal provided a vivid image of the consequences of transgressing the Mosaic law? Surely, John must have shocked his listeners by applying the phrase “Lamb of God” to a living man. When we pray to Jesus as the Lamb of God, we are praying to the one who voluntarily laid down his life to take in his own body the punishment for our sins and for the sins of the entire world.
· What do you think of when you think of Jesus as the Lamb of God? How does this title relate to your life?
Day 8 – KING OF KINGS
· And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords. Revelation 19:16
The world has never seen a king like Christ, a ruler mightier than any earthly sovereign and more powerful than the unseen powers of the universe. Though he entered the world humbly, as an infant born in Bethlehem, Magi from the east still recognize him as the newborn king. Through his reign though his reign unfolds in hidden ways, he has promised to come again, at which time he will reveal himself unambiguously as “king of Kings and Lord of Lords.” The passage from Revelation 19 presents Jesus’ riding not on a lowly donkey but on a magnificent white horse, as befits the greatest of all kings. Throughout the New Testament Jesus is variously referred to as “King,” “King of Kings,” “King of the ages,” “King of the Jews,” “King of Israel,” and “King of Kings.” When we pray to Jesus, the king of Kings, call to his mastery not only over human beings but over nature, disease, and death itself.
· Write a list of qualities that would describe the perfect king. Now compare and contrast these with allies of today's rulers.
· What do you think it means to have Jesus as your king? How have you experienced his reign in your life thus far?
Day 9 – PRINCE OF PEACE
· 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. Isaiah 9:6
Who has not longed for peace, living in a world that is so often full of strife? The Hebrew word for peace, however, means much more than the absence of conflict or the end of turmoil. Shalom conveys not only a sense of tranquility but also of wholeness and completion. To enjoy Shalom is to enjoy health, satisfaction, success, safety, well-being, and prosperity. Though the New Testament does not directly call Jesus the Prince of Peace, this title from Isaiah has traditionally been associated with him as the One who brings peace to the world. Furthermore, Paul assured the Ephesian Christians saying of Jesus, “He himself is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14). When you pray to Shar Shalom, you are praying to the one who is the source of all peace. To live in peace is to live in his presence.
· Ask yourself rather you are experiencing Christ’s peace in your life. How can you participate more deeply in his peace?
Day 10 – CHRIST, MESSIAH
· Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Acts 2:36
Most are US of familiar with the title “Christ” that we tend to consider it part of Jesus’ personal name. But what exactly does it mean? Like “Messiah,” “Christ” means the “anointed one.” The phrase “anointed one” refers to someone who has been set apart for a special mission. That was how the first Christians thought about Jesus. As Israel’s Messiah, he was the greatest of all kings, the one called and empowered to destroy God's enemies and extend his Kingdom throughout the earth. His mission was to put an end to our deepest troubles – to rebellion, sin, and death. When we pray to Jesus Christ, we are praying to the Messiah, the Anointed One, whose mission involves calling the world back to God through the power of his love.
· What do you think it means for believers to be anointed or set apart for Christ’s service? How have you experienced this annoying in your own life?
Day 11 – RABBI, RABBOUNI, TEACHER
· But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi;’ for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Matthew 23:8 NKLV
In Jesus’ day the name “rabbi” or “teacher” was normally reserved for someone who had studied under another rabbi for many years. Jesus offended the religious leaders of his day by ignoring this system. Instead of apprenticing himself to a rabbi, he simply laid down his carpenter tools and called twelve ordinary men to become his disciples. Unlike other rabbis, who merely passed on the teaching of the rabbi under whom they had studied, Jesus spoke with an authority that startled many of his listeners. Two thousand years later, we are called to become his disciples, to stay as close to him as a disciple would to a rabbi, studying his life, examining his teachings, and allowing his Spirit to remake us in his image. When you pray to Rabbi Jesus, remember that you are praying to the only teacher who is all-wise, all-good, and all-powerful, able to transform not only your mind but also your heart.
· Why do you think Jesus cautioned his disciples in Matthew 23:8 against the title rabbi?
· How would your life be different if you understood that your primary identity consisted of being a disciple of Rabbi Jesus?
Day 12 – WORD – LOGOS
· And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
Though God has always revealed himself in some way, the incarnation is the clearest, most compelling reflection of who God is – of His holiness, love, and power. Because Jesus is one with the Father, he is uniquely able to communicate God's heart and mind. As Logos, or “The Word,” everything about Jesus – his teachings, miracles, suffering, death, and resurrection – speaks to us of God. Our destiny depends on how well we listen. Will we believe, or will we ignore the message of God's love? When you pray to Jesus as the Word, you are praying to the One whose voice calls us from death to life and from darkness to light.
· Read John 1:14. What do you think it means to see God's glory?
Day 13 – CORNERSTONE
· Then He looked at them and said, “What then is this that is written: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone’? Luke 20:17 NKJV
Stones were used for building altars, homes, palaces, and temples. When “capstone” or “cornerstone” is mentioned in the Bible, it refers to a particularly important stone that held two rows of stones together in a corner, one that stabilized the structure at the foundation, or one that formed the keystone over an arch or at the top of a roof parapet. In order to hold the structure together, the cornerstone had to be perfectly fitted for the task, both strong and well-shaped. A flawed or poorly cut stone would compromise the building’s integrity. Jesus is the Cornerstone or Capstone to which we are joined as living stones. Together we form a spiritual house in which God can dwell. As the foundation stone on which Christ is building his Kingdom, Jesus is strong enough to hold everything together. He is also the fitting conclusion to all God's work. When you pray to him as the Cornerstone, you are praying to the One on whom we can base your life.
· What do you think it means to build your life on Jesus as the Cornerstone?
Day 14 – BRIGHT MORNING STAR
· I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. Revelation 22:16
In the last chapter of the Book of Revelation, Jesus calls himself the “Bright Morning Star.” In ancient times, the morning star was thought of as a herald of the new day, signaling the dawn of hope and joy. The brightest object in the sky aside from the sun and moon, it is a fitting type for Christ, who ushers in a new day for the entire world. When you call on Jesus, the Bright Morning Star, you are calling on the One from whom all darkness flees.
· Does understanding the name “Bright Morning Star,” give you hope? And why?
Day 15 – LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH
· 4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. Revelation 5:4-5
Only once in the New Testament is Jesus described as a lion. The Book of Revelation (named in part for what it reveals about Christ) portrays the risen Jesus as the only one worthy to open the scroll that contains the ultimate unfolding of God's purposes for the world. The apostle John perceived Jesus as both Lion and lamb, who through his death and resurrection becomes the ultimate victor and conqueror. When you pray to Jesus is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, you are praying to the One with the power to banish all fear, to the One who watches over you with his fierce protecting love. You are also praying to the One who is judge of the living and the dead.
· How have you experienced and understood both the “lamblike” an “lionlike” nature of Jesus in your own life?
Day 16 – LORD – KYRIOS
· 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 2:9-11
Christianity’s earliest confession of faith consisted of three short but incredibly powerful words: Jesus is Lord! The early Christians believe that the father had placed Jesus, by virtue of his death am resurrection, at the apex of time an eternity-Higher than any power or person in the universe. Both those who love him and those who oppose him well one day call Jesus “Lord.” In the end, even the devil will be forced to acknowledge him. As you bow your head in prayer before the sovereign Lord, remember that you are placing your life – the worst of your disappointments, the most protracted of your struggles, the wildest of your dreams – squarely in his hands. Knowing Jesus as Lord will lead you to a deeper experience of his presence and his power.
· How have you experienced Jesus being Lord in your life?
Day 17 – FRIEND – PHILOS
· Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
Jesus is not only Lord and Master but the greatest of all friends, who willingly proved his friendship by his death on the cross. By this costly gesture he has won the friendship of millions of men in women from every tongue and tribe and nation. When you pray to Jesus your Friend, you are praying to the One who loved you before you were lovable and who links you together with his many friends throughout the world. John's Gospel indicates that Jesus not only called his disciples his friends but defined his own relationship with them by what was to be the greatest of all acts of friendship, in which he would lay down his life for them.
· Describe the best friendship you ever had. How does it compare with the way you have experienced Jesus’ friendship?
Day 18 – ALPHA AND OMEGA
· I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Revelation 22:13
In the last book of the Bible, Jesus reveals himself as “the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Present at the worlds beginning, Jesus will also be present at its end, when he and his work are finally and fully revealed. When you pray to Christ as the Alpha and the Omega, you are praying to the one who is, who was, and who is to come. He is our all-sufficient Lord, who will not fail to complete the good work he has begun in us.
· How do you think the title “Alpha and Omega,” relate to Christ divinity?
· What would it mean to say that Jesus is first and last in your own life?
Day 19 – JESUS THE SAVIOR
· 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. Matthew 1:20-21
Just as Yahweh is God's personal name revealed in the Old Testament, Jesus is the personal name of the One we call Redeemer, Lord, and Christ. His name is intimately linked to the God of the Hebrew Scriptures because it means “Yahweh is salvation.” Indeed, Jesus is Yahweh come to earth. If you have ever pictured God as a distant, wrathful Being, you will have to reconsider that portrait in light of Jesus Christ, who is God bending towards us, God becoming one of us, God reaching out in mercy, God humbling himself, God nailed to a cross, God raising up from the grave to show us the way home. Jesus, name above all names, beautiful Savior, glorious Lord!
· What comes to mind when you hear the name “Jesus”?
Day 20 – BRIDGEGROOM, HUSBAND
· Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” Revelation 19:9 NIV
God is not content to be known merely as Creator, Lord, or even Father. Incredibly he reveals himself also as Bridegroom or Husband. The Hebrew Scriptures contain numerous allusions to Yahweh as Israel’s divine Husband, and the New Testament presents Christ as the church’s Bridegroom. He is the Holy One who did not cling to his divinity but left his Father’s house to dwell among us, calling us to become one with him in the most intimate way possible. To all of us, male and female, Christ offers himself as our provider and protector, the one who has forever pledged himself in faithfulness and love
· What do you think it means that Jesus is the Bridegroom?
· Ask God to reveal areas of your life that require better preparation for the Bridegroom.
Day 21 – SON OF DAVID
· 32 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: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Luke 1:32-33
David was Israel’s greatest king, a man whom the Bible describes as having the very heart of God. So, it may not be surprising that the New Testament both begins and ends with references to Jesus as the Son or Offspring of David. He is the one who fulfilled the promise of a coming King so beloved by God that his throne will endure forever. Like David, Jesus was born in Bethlehem (the city of David). And like David, who established his Kingdom by overcoming Israel’s enemies and uniting God's people, Jesus would establish his Kingdom by defeating the principalities and powers, making a way for us to become part of it as we confess our faith in him. When you pray to Jesus as the Son of David, you are praying to the long-awaited King, human by virtue of his descent from David and divine by virtue of being God's only Son.
· Compare the lives of Jesus and David. What similarities do you see? What differences do you see?
Day 22 – PRIEST, PROPHET
· Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. Hebrews 4:14 NIV
· In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. Hebrews 1:1 NIV
Jesus is both Priest – the One who faithfully bears us into God's presence by virtue of his self-sacrifice – and the Prophet – the One who perfectly communicates God's Word to us. We are called to listen to him, to trust in his work, and to take our places as part of a Kingdom of priests who in Christ Jesus offer ourselves on behalf of others. As you pray to Jesus as both Priest and Prophet, ask him to help you understand the deep meaning of these titles so that you can live out their truths in your life.
· Why do you think it is important that Jesus, as High Priest, is able to sympathize with our weaknesses?
· How has Jesus as Prophet revealed God to you?
Day 23 – SON OF GOD, SON OF MAN
· 13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Matthew 16:13-16
Like the Father, Jesus is God. He always was, always is, and always will be. But unlike the Father, Jesus is also a human being. Though charged with blasphemy and crucified for claiming to be one with the Father, Jesus’ resurrection validates his claim to be God’s Son in a unique way. When we confess our belief that Jesus is the Son of God, we share in the love the Father has for the Son, becoming adopted children of God. Though Jesus was the Son of God, he was also the Son of a Man, a title that emphasizes both his lowliness and his eventual dominion. Near the end of his life, when the high priest asked him whether he was the Son of God, Jesus no longer avoided the title but said that he would one day “see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven” (Matthew 26:24). When you pray to Jesus as Son of God and Son of Man, you are praying to the One who is your Brother and your Lord.
· Describe your image of the ideal son or daughter. How does this compare with your image of yourself in relationship to God?
Day 24 – GOOD SHEPHERD
· I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. John 10:11
One of the most tender images of Jesus is one he supplied When referencing to himself as the Good Shepherd. This name reminds us both of our own vulnerability and Jesus’ watchful, Protecting care. It evokes a sense of belonging, intimacy, and trust, revealing the Good Shepherd as the One who lays down his life for his sheep. When you pray to the Good Shepherd, you are admitting your need for his care and your confidence in his ability to watch over and protect you.
· This passage from John contains both frightening and comforting images. It is frightening to think that thieves, robbers, and wolves want to prey on the sheep, but comforting to know that Jesus will go to any lengths to protect them. How do these images express spiritual realities?
· The phrase “Good Shepherd,” implies that there are also bad shepherds. How is it possible to tell the difference?
Day 25 – SERVANT, SERVANT OF GOD, MAN OF SORROWS
· He was despised and rejected, a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. Isaiah 53:3a NLT
· just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28 NKJV
Like most of us, Jesus’ disciples where sometimes caught up with the sense of their own self-importance, at times even arguing with each other about which of them was greatest. Jesus startled them by reversing the natural order in which it is the weak who serve the strong. He assured them, instead, that he came not in order to control and dominate but in order to serve. Though prophets, judges, and kings were called servants of God in the Bible, Jesus is the greatest of all God’s servants, the Man of Sorrows who laid down his life in obedience to his Father. He is the servant who through his suffering has saved us. When you pray to Jesus as Servant or as the Man of Sorrows, you are praying to the Lord who has loved you in the most passionate way possible, allowing himself to be nailed to a cross in order that you might have life and have it to the full.
· When you think of Jesus’ suffering, how does it make you feel about him, about yourself, about others?
· Describe experiences in which you have been able to serve someone else with the love of Christ?
Day 26 – THE REDEEMER
· For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45 NLT
Without a Redeemer willing and able to pay the high price necessary to liberate us from the power of sin, the story of our lives in this world will be nothing but a story of hopelessness. But because of Christ’s redemptive love, we look forward with hope to a day when the world itself will be completely liberated from the power of sin and death. Until then we can express our faith in Christ by echoing the words of scripture, I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And in my flesh, I will see God. “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God!” Job19:25-26
· If Christ has purchased you with his blood, what are the implications for your sense of self-worth? For your sense of the worth of others?
· Scripture says that Jesus has purchased members from every tribe and language ad people and nations. Is that diversity represented in your denomination or your local church? If not, why not?
Day 27 – THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS
· In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, The Lord Our Righteousness. Jeremiah 23:6
Righteousness isn’t a popular word in our culture. Yet righteousness is essential to our happiness because it involves being in right relationship or standing with God and conforming to his character, fulfilling our responsibilities toward him and others. But righteousness is impossible for us to achieve, no matter how much we might long for it. It comes only as God’s gift to us through faith in his Son. When we pray to the Lord Our Righteousness, we are praying to the One who has intervened on our behalf to restore us to his likeness and therefore to fellowship with himself.
· Jeremiah reveals that the coming King will be known as “The Lord Our Righteousness.” What comes to mind when you hear the words “righteous” or “righteousness”?
Day 28 – LORD, MASTER
· I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing. Psalm 16:2
Adonay is a Hebrew word meaning “Lord,” a name that implies relationship: God is Lord, and we are his servants. As a word referring to God it appears more than three hundred times in the Hebrew Scriptures. As you pray to Adonay, tell him you want to surrender every aspect of your life to him. Pray for the grace to become the kind of servant who is quick to do God’s will. Remember, too, that the Lord is the only one who can empower you to fulfill his purpose for your life. In fact, it is knowing him as your Lord that you will discover a true sense of purpose.
· How is the lordship of God displayed in your life?
Day 29 – FATHER, ABBA
· And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. Luke 15:20
Though the Old Testament provides many rich names and titles for God, the New Testament reveals him most fully. Jesus, in fact, shocked and offended the religious leaders of his day by claiming that he had a Father/Son relationship with the God whose name they feared even to pronounce. Furthermore, by inviting his followers to call God “Father,” he made this the primary name by which God is to be known to his followers. That's why we can boldly pray the prayer Jesus taught his disciples, “Our Father who art in heaven….
· How have you experienced the kind of grace this father extended to his son?
· How is grace offered to both the lawbreaker and the law keeper in this scripture Luke 15?
Day 30 – JUDGE, SHOPHET
· Judgment will again be founded on righteousness, and all the upright in heart will follow it. Psalm 94:15 NIV
Justice is ultimately rooted not in a collection of laws or rules but in the very character and nature of God. As a judge of the whole earth, he is the only one competent to measure the motivations of our hearts. In the Hebrew Scriptures, the word “judge” is often parallel to the word “king.” When we pray to God our Shophet (sho-PHAIT), we are praying to the One whose righteousness demands perfect justice but who has also provided a way for us to be acquitted of our quilt through the life, death, and resurrection of his Son.
· Who are the victims of injustice the psalmist names (See Psalm 94:2-15)? How are such people still victimized in the world today?
· How have you experienced God's discipline in your life?
Day 31 – THE LORD OF HOSTS
· 45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46 This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 1 Samuel 17:45-46
The Lord of Hosts is a title that emphasizes God's rule over every other power in the material and spiritual universe. When Scripture speaks of “the host of heaven,” it is usually Speaking of celestial bodies, though the phrase can also refer to angelic beings. The word “host” can also refer to human beings and to nature itself. When you pray to Yahweh Tsebaoth, you are praying to a God so magnificent that all creation serves his purposes.
· Why do you think the story (1 Samuel 17:38-47) - emphasize David's inability to do battle in the King's armor?
What one thing could you do today that would help you face future battles with a greater faith?