Tag: dependable

A Personal Name for God, Friend

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One of the more personal names for God is friend. Jesus told his disciples He was their friend and that applies to each of us as we embrace Jesus by faith. We too become His friends. I love the old hymn, “What a friend I have in Jesus”.  The lyrics speak of our friend Jesus bearing all our sins and griefs and our privilege of taking our problems to Him in prayer.   Jesus called us His friends in John 15:14-15 “ You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”   

Being called a friend of Jesus means we follow His Word and walk beside and with Him in our daily life.  He is right there to help us when we stumble, give a word of comfort or be our companion.  By following His pathway we are no longer just like a hired servants or one who receives orders to go along with him, but a friend to be confided in, helped and taught.   He also promises to reveal what He knows about God the Father to us.  A few verses later in John 15:18 Jesus warns us that being called His friend will put us in a position to be hated by others.  “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.”   He also speaks of this in 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.”   I love the promise Jesus gives at the end of the Matthew verse.  Standing with Jesus and enduring the derision and persecution that the unbelieving world places upon us because we proclaim Him, will bring a great reward. 

Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, I have a friend in Jesus who will never leave me nor forsake me. Where do you need such a friend today? Reach out to Him in prayer and let Him know of your thoughts, hopes and struggles. He will be there for you as no one has ever been before!

Linda

Suggestion:  Spend some time with your friend Jesus today.  Go for a prayer, praise walk with Jesus.  Talk with Him as you walk along and praise Him for His provision and the glory you see along the way.  Can’t get out?  Just gaze out a window and spend time journeying with Jesus in prayer.

God is Our Rock!

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Jehovah-Sel’i or the Lord is my Rock is a new name for me. The Lord is listed repeatedly in scripture by the writers as my rock and I never saw it as a specific name for God. David often spoke this name for God as he saw God as the one who held him together and protected him at the most difficult times of his life. David was anointed to be King by Samuel while Saul was still king. David never threated Saul and was patiently waiting for God to move him into the king’s position. Saul on the other hand, was anxious to see David killed so his line and kingship would continue. David wrote Psalm 18 when under duress and persecution from Saul. Saul sought to kill David for 14 years before his death. You can hear the heart of David in his words and his true feelings about God his rock.

Psalm 18: 1-5 “I love you, O Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
    my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
    my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. God was the one upon whom he depended.
3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
    and I am saved from my enemies.

4 The cords of death encompassed me;
    the torrents of destruction assailed me; Even though Saul tried to kill him, 5 the cords of Sheol entangled me; David clung to God his Rock.
    the snares of death confronted me.

31-33 “For who is God, but the Lord?
    And who is a rock, except our God?—
32 the God who equipped me with strength David praises God’s steadfastness
    and made my way blameless. and His equipping.
33 He made my feet like the feet of a deer
    and set me secure on the heights.

46-48 “The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock,
    and exalted be the God of my salvation—
47 the God who gave me vengeance Praise God, my rock! He saved me!
    and subdued peoples under me,
48 who rescued me from my enemies;
    yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me;
    you delivered me from the man of violence.

I love this Psalm as it shows how David leaned upon God for his strength, courage, rescuing, equipping, and steadfastness. God was the immovable Rock that David could cling to in all times and in all seasons. No matter the circumstances, David knew that God would be there. Psalm 94:22 David writes these words, “But the Lord has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge.”

Who is God to you? Is He one to be depended upon at all times, confided in, trusted with your most difficult problems and your hopes and dreams? Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can know the Rock of my salvation and cling to Him, hide behind and within Him and know He will never change. He is immutable and as Hebrews 13:8 states, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” We can depend upon our unchanging God just like David.

Linda