It is so energizing and exciting to participate in #Write31days, an online writing challenge where writers pick one topic and write a post on that topic every day in the month of October. Within the #Write31days category of Inspiration & Faith, I chose to focus on the topic of the Name Above All Names every day for 31 days. You can view each of my daily posts at this landing page.
Krista Hamrick’s beautiful original art print, Name Above All Names Alphabet, has so inspired me. Each of the 26 individual Names she has identified are so special, as Krista has intricately painted, almost like stained glass windows, each one with its Scripture reference.
My heart has been drawn to do a word study for each of the names included in her art print. Krista and I felt led to publish our Name Above All Names Devotional: Focusing on 26 Alphabetical Names of Christ …available now on Amazon as a softcover book and as a Kindle book at this link.
I was inspired by the Gaither Vocal Band’s anointed hymn, He Touched Me, while studying John 4:42 …
NASB: and they were saying to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.”
Amplified: And they told the woman, Now we no longer believe (trust, have faith) just because of what you said; for we have heard Him ourselves [personally], and we know that He truly is the Savior of the world, the Christ.
Expanded: They said to the woman, “·First we believed in Jesus [It is no longer] because of what you said, but now we believe because we heard him ourselves. We know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”
J.B. Phillips: As they told the woman, “We don’t believe any longer now because of what you said. We have heard him with our own ears. We know now that this must be the man who will save the world!”
TLB: Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe because we have heard him ourselves, not just because of what you told us. He is indeed the Savior of the world.”
The Message: They said to the woman, “We’re no longer taking this on your say-so. We’ve heard it for ourselves and know it for sure. He’s the Savior of the world!”
Young’s Literal: and said to the woman -- `No more because of thy speaking do we believe; for we ourselves have heard and known that this is truly the Saviour of the world -- the Christ.'
Bible study teacher Beth Moore writes: “Christ's encounter with the woman at the well introduces us to some realities of life we desperately need to remember: Our insatiable need or craving for too much of anything is symptomatic of unmet needs or “empty places.” Salvation does not equal satisfaction. You can be genuinely saved and still be unsatisfied. Satisfaction comes only when every empty place is filled with the fullness of Christ. While salvation comes to us as a gift from God, we find satisfaction in Him as we deliberately surrender all parts of our lives to Him. Though she did not immediately profess her faith, the Samaritan woman later recounted her encounter with Jesus in public, influencing the whole town. Many from the town believed in Jesus because of the woman’s testimony. They urged Jesus to stay on and teach them, too. In the end, the townspeople said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” How can we share the full message of the Bible, including God’s view of sin and the possibility of eternal separation from Him, without driving away our listeners? While this is an important and natural question to ask, we must remember God’s promise to draw unbelievers to Himself. Jesus said, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him" (John 6:44) Our part in God’s work is to love unbelievers and hold out the truth to them. We may not see the results of our sharing. God, however, does see the continuing process in each life. He reveals Himself in His Word and through those who are willing to share His Word and His love with unbelievers. Only He knows how each individual heart responds to Him. We can trust God to do His part perfectly.”
TLB: Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe because we have heard him ourselves, not just because of what you told us. He is indeed the Savior of the world.”
The Message: They said to the woman, “We’re no longer taking this on your say-so. We’ve heard it for ourselves and know it for sure. He’s the Savior of the world!”
Young’s Literal: and said to the woman -- `No more because of thy speaking do we believe; for we ourselves have heard and known that this is truly the Saviour of the world -- the Christ.'
Bible study teacher Beth Moore writes: “Christ's encounter with the woman at the well introduces us to some realities of life we desperately need to remember: Our insatiable need or craving for too much of anything is symptomatic of unmet needs or “empty places.” Salvation does not equal satisfaction. You can be genuinely saved and still be unsatisfied. Satisfaction comes only when every empty place is filled with the fullness of Christ. While salvation comes to us as a gift from God, we find satisfaction in Him as we deliberately surrender all parts of our lives to Him. Though she did not immediately profess her faith, the Samaritan woman later recounted her encounter with Jesus in public, influencing the whole town. Many from the town believed in Jesus because of the woman’s testimony. They urged Jesus to stay on and teach them, too. In the end, the townspeople said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” How can we share the full message of the Bible, including God’s view of sin and the possibility of eternal separation from Him, without driving away our listeners? While this is an important and natural question to ask, we must remember God’s promise to draw unbelievers to Himself. Jesus said, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him" (John 6:44) Our part in God’s work is to love unbelievers and hold out the truth to them. We may not see the results of our sharing. God, however, does see the continuing process in each life. He reveals Himself in His Word and through those who are willing to share His Word and His love with unbelievers. Only He knows how each individual heart responds to Him. We can trust God to do His part perfectly.”
Pastor
Don Fortner writes: “In Isaiah 43:3, He is Jehovah our God; but more than that,
he is Jehovah our Righteousness. The Lord our God is the Lord our Righteousness.
Then he declares himself to be “Thy Savior.” The Lord our God, who is the Lord
our Righteousness, is the Lord our Savior. The Lord who redeemed us, called us,
and made us holy by his almighty grace is our Savior. Who is he? What is his
name? The answer is found in Matthew 1:21. The angel of the Lord said to
Joseph, “She shall bring forth a son, and thou shall call his name Jesus; for
he shall save his people from their sins.” The Lord our God, Jehovah, is Jesus
our Savior. Jesus Christ is Jehovah our God come to save. With the incarnation,
life, death, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ all these
names of our God and Savior and the messages contained in them are fulfilled.
The name by which the Lord God appeared to his saints in the types and
prophecies of the Old Testament is Jehovah. Jesus, the name which our Lord
assumed when he came into the earth as a man, is a transliteration of the Old
Testament name Joshua, which means “Jehovah is salvation,” or “Jehovah is
Savior.” The name of the God-Man, who is our Savior is Jehovah-Jesus, or the
Lord Jesus; and he is the Christ. Jehovah-Jesus is God over all and blessed
forever, Creator and sovereign Ruler of all things He is a real man, touched
with the feeling of our infirmities. He knows the temptations of his people in
every age and at every stage of life. He knows the pain of loneliness and
isolation. He knows the bitterness of scornful and mocking jeers. He knows the
grief of betrayal by friends. He knows the weakness of hunger and the fever of
sickness. He knows the sorrows of bereavement, sin, and death. Though he had no
sin of his own and consequently no sorrow of his own, when he came to be made
sin for us he suffered for us all the consequences of sin. Child of God, be assured
that whatever it is that touches you, it has touched him. He knows what you
feel. He knows the pain that crushes your heart which no one else can
understand. What is your trouble? What is your sorrow? What is your burden?
Tell it to Jehovah-Jesus. He is a friend who understands and a God who is able
to help. He not only knows our weaknesses and needs, he is able to do something
about them. Jehovah-Jesus is our Mediator, our Savior, our Brother, our
Advocate, and our God. The angel did not say, “He shall reward his people for
their righteousness.” He did not say, “He shall save his people from becoming
sinners.” He said, “He shall save his people from their sins.” The connecting
link between Christ and his people is not their goodness, but their sins. Christ
never gave himself for our righteousness. He gave himself for our sins. If we
had never sinned we would never have needed a Savior. Had we never sinned, the
name of Jesus would never have been heard. “The first link between my soul and
Christ is, not my goodness, but my badness; not my merit, but my misery; not my
standing, but my falling; not my riches, but my need” (C.H. Spurgeon).
Rather than wait for the unbeliever to come to church, Christ brought a living gospel to the doorstep of their homes. The challenge is no less compelling today. Right outside the walls of your local church are people who are seeking answers. There are those who need healing, who are lonely, and who may even be reviled by others in their community. You have good medicine to dispense—a gospel message that heals hearts and changes lives and reconciles sinners to a merciful Savior—Jesus Christ.
Lord Jesus, thank You for giving me a faith in You that is real and personal. You come to those of us who know that apart from You we are sick, instead of to those who believe that they are well, but are really sick at heart. Thank You for being my Great Physician and for never being too busy to attend to my needs or wounds. Guide me in joyfully dispensing to others the good medicine You pour out to me. There are so many who don’t know You and need to hear the truth. Help me to share my faith in such a way that others will be drawn to You and will accept You as their Savior. In Your mighty Name Above All Names--Savior, we pray, amen.
Look Up—meditate on John 4:42. Pray to see what it reveals about the character of God.
Look In—as you meditate on John 4:42 pray to see how you might apply it to your life. Be propelled to ask galvanizing questions about your discoveries: "Because God is_________, I will_____________."
Look Out—as you meditate on John 4:42 pray to see how you might apply it to your relationships with others. Let the nature of God impact on every relationship, for your good, and for His glory.
* If you liked this post you’ll love this book – Name Above All Names Devotional: Focusing on 26 Alphabetical Names of Christ
Look Up—meditate on John 4:42. Pray to see what it reveals about the character of God.
Look In—as you meditate on John 4:42 pray to see how you might apply it to your life. Be propelled to ask galvanizing questions about your discoveries: "Because God is_________, I will_____________."
Look Out—as you meditate on John 4:42 pray to see how you might apply it to your relationships with others. Let the nature of God impact on every relationship, for your good, and for His glory.
* If you liked this post you’ll love this book – Name Above All Names Devotional: Focusing on 26 Alphabetical Names of Christ
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