Month: April 2018

TeacherStudent

By No Other Name–I AM

Psalms_8-9 thy name

 

13 Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?”
14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:13-14)

God declares His name in the present tense, for He has always been, is now, and shall forever be. Stating “I AM WHO I AM” with precise clarity, God describes His character which speaks for itself. It is “WHO I AM.”

A name can speak authority, manifest power, declare celebrity, carry legacy. Each name represents life and existence, along with the capability of what we can become. We are named at birth, but the significance of our given name is what we do with our lives. This
becomes our character and our legacy, recognized by–and represented through– our name.

In a Beatles’ song, Eleanor Rigby is “buried along with her name.” ¹ There is no legacy, no lasting measure of a difference made by living.

There is a name, however, that we can chose, beyond our birth name, which gives us eternal life and the opportunity to make a lasting difference in this temporal life. Bearing the name “Christian” means speaking with the authority of the Word, manifesting the power found in Christ, shining with the celebrity of His name (that has not faded with
time), and carrying the weight of His legacy. The character that accompanies this name “Christian” must be worthy. Who we are should clearly show the character of Christ.

The significance of being called “Christian” is clearly shown upon examination of this word. The suffix “ian” or “an” in the word “Christian” means the following: “belonging to or relating to; typical of or resembling; adhering to or following; a person who specializes or is expert in.”² Bearing the name “Christian,” we belong and relate to, resemble, adhere to and follow Christ. We should be specialists and experts in what it means to be a Christian.

By no other name can we enter eternity with Christ but “Christian.” Our character must reveal Christ through our actions and our words to bear this name. It is the name that will not be left on a tombstone to fade and disappear with time. It is a name that will endure and be acknowledged by Christ as we enter the presence of I AM forever.

¹ “Eleanor Rigby” by the Beatles/1966 release/Album Revolver                                                    ² Suffix “ian” or “an” meaning from dictionary.com

(Sharon G. Tate blog 04/28/18) teacherforjesus.com Meditations on God’s Word

TeacherStudent

NEW LIFE UNDER GOD’S LIGHT

 

 

22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24)

********************************************************

The old self is the familiar self. It is hard to leave the comfort of familiarity and start anew. Like the plant trying to break through the hardened ground to reach the light and grow, we struggle. The darkness underground in the shadows envelops us, seemingly hiding what we don’t want the Light to see associated with our old self.

We know His Light will change us. It will reveal what we cannot hide. We are unable to remain the same under the influence of Light. The plant knows this about light. Photosynthesis is innate to its existence and    sustenance. God imbued the plant with this “understanding.” It is changed by light, as we are when we yield to its life-giving effects.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the  resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.   (I Peter 1:3-5)

The old self, that we have come to know so well, cannot grow and change. It is an Old Life Dying every moment. The old must die to  release the reborn me and you in a New Engaging Walk with the Light.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Death, in our culture, is usually associated with feelings of fear, anxiety, dread, and avoidance. Yet, through the Light of Christ, death to our old self is the means through which we can each grow to prepare for our new life eternal. From death is the hope to rise anew, to break through the hard ground out of the darkness, to reach upward and bend, like the plant, toward the saving Light.

 When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

Let us each follow His Light.

He is the path to salvation,

Our Guide home through the darkness.

(Sharon G. Tate blog 04/22/18)  teacherforjesus.com  Meditations on God’s Word

TeacherStudent

Jehovah-Shalom: The Lord is Peace

The Lord gives strength to His people;
the Lord blesses His people with peace. (Psalm 29:11)

When reading the headlines in the newspaper or hearing the day’s events as presented by the nightly news anchor, we might question,

“WHERE IS THE PEACE, LORD?”

Jesus clearly answers us: 27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)

The world outside may be a raging storm, our inner world may be a tempest–but He gives us peace from it all, if we are willing to let Him into our hearts. The Lord gives us this promise when winds blow,  lightning strikes, hail falls, floods rise, inner thoughts assail in our moments of uncertainty and fear: 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)  Jesus is the “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” who gives us refuge from the storms of life (Isaiah 9:6).

10 Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor My covenant of peace be removed,”
says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

(Isaiah 54:10)

The only way we are removed from this peace is by our own doing– when our faith is weak, when we fear a sinful society seems beyond   redemption, when our internal thoughts become ridden with doubt. Through all of this, we limit God, and His peace cannot reach us. The giving end from God is always powerful and strong; the faulty transmission comes at the point of reception– you and me.

 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him,  so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

PEACE! PEACE! BE STILL. ¹

 ¹ “Master, the Tempest is Raging” lyrics by Mary Ann Baker 1874

(Sharon G. Tate blog 04/15/18) teacherforjesus.com Meditations on God’s Word

TeacherStudent

In Awe of our Awesome God!

Awesome wonders mountains

 

Many, LORD my God, are the wonders You have done, the things You planned for us. None can compare with You; were I to speak and tell of Your deeds, they would be too many to declare. (Psalm 40:5)

*************************************************************

WONDER: “To be filled with admiration, amazement, or awe; marvel” 1

My three-year-old grandson was tugging on my son’s hand, trying to make him move more quickly around the pond walkway. Suddenly, he stopped, pointed, and loudly exclaimed, “Magic! Magic, Daddy!” We all stopped to look.

Sparkling lights were dancing atop the water from the sun’s reflection and the combined motion of the water with the wind.  Indeed, it did look magical. But the real wonder was not created by sleight of hand through any magic but by God, Who spoke the elements into existence, thus forming the possibility of this scenario of light, water, and wind to create a moment of beauty witnessed first by the innocence of a child. It was the child, imbued with innate wonder, who made the adults stop– and notice the dance.

Tugging the child’s hand, we moved ahead on the walkway, soon reaching the other side of the pond. But the little boy kept looking back at the water, whispering “Magic.” He was still amazed, awed. Did we, too, see with the eyes of the child, with the eyes of children of God—and marvel?

The wonders God has done just for us in this world demand our gratitude, our amazement, and our awe:

14 “Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God’s wonders. 

15 Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash? 

16 Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of Him who has perfect knowledge?  (Job 37:14-16)

 

19 He made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down. 

20 You bring darkness, it becomes night, and all the beasts of the forest prowl. 

21 The lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God. 

22 The sun rises, and they steal away; they return and lie down in their dens. 

23 Then people go out to their work, to their labor until evening. 

24 How many are your works, LORD! In wisdom You made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures. (Psalm 104:19-24)

 

31 May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in His works— 

32 He Who looks at the earth, and it trembles, Who touches the mountains, and they smoke. 

33 I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. 

34 May my meditation be pleasing to Him, as I rejoice in the LORD. (Psalm 104:31-34)

May our meditation be pleasing to Him, Who created wonders just for us to enjoy. Let us rejoice always in the Lord and be amazed by His sparkles of Light, reflected in all creation. May our eyes behold in awe, as our lips whisper, “GOD.”

1 http://www.dictionary.com

(Sharon G. Tate blog 04/08/18) teacherforjesus.com Meditations on God’s Word