December 7 – His Incomprehensible Name

“Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “What is your name, so that when your words come to pass, we may honor you?” But the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask my name, seeing it is “wonderful?”” – Judges 13:18 (NASB)

Our verse comes from the story of Samson in the Book of Judges. The Lord God visits in person the mother of Samson ad announces Samson’s birth and calling. His father Manoah asks for an in person announcement rather than believing the hearsay his wife tells him regarding the news of Samson’s birth. In this account, the Lord then appears to Manoah with a miraculous demonstration. But that is not enough because Manoah asks, What is Your name? This secret name is again indicative that the Angel is the Lord. “Why do you ask My name?” The Angel would not divulge His name just as He didn't reveal His name to Jacob in Genesis 32:24–30. Considering how often we hear the name of God bandied about with no respect and often with a great disrespect, we can be amazed at Manoah’s response – He wished to honor the name of this messenger who was the Lord God Himself. But he is told by the angel of the Lord that is not possible because “my name…is ‘wonderful.'" The word ‘wonderful’ means ‘incomprehensible,’ see Isaiah 9:6. The true meaning of God’s name is wonderful beyond our ability to understand it.

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June 20 – Guarding You In All Your Ways

“Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place—the Most High, who is my refuge—no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” - Psalm 91:9-11 (ESV)

Ever heard often about promises of guardian angels? We believe that they are watching over us although we can't see them. Sometimes we sense God’s Spirit and presence and believe this is because of His angels watching over us. As we read this promise today, we are reminded who it is that gets this special protection. Notice that it is those who believe in the LORD, Most High. Our spelling and grammar checkers want to change the “Most High” to “Highest” but that is not really the same thing, is it?  It is in the LORD Most High that we find our dwelling place and profess Him as our refuge. How do we dwell in the Most High? We do so by faith believing the promises God has given to us. So let's remember that we live, or dwell in our LORD when we trust Him at all times – not just once in a while. We learn to trust and obey not only when things are tough but even when they are not so tough. Living in God is a constant that comes through a constant faith. 

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March 22 – I AM the Root

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I AM the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” – Revelation 22:16 (ESV)

Yesterday we looked at the original name for Himself that God gave to Moses, I AM than I AM. That name and the words I AM are used by Jesus in many places in the New Testament.  The last time is in the last book, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.”  The Revelation was given to Apostle John while he was exiled to the Island of Patmos. Revelation is given to us who believe and are members of the Churches that are the body of Christ that we might know what is coming. In these last verses John records the words given to him by Jesus and He sends His angel to testify that all that John wrote had come from Jesus and was true. Jesus promises again that He has the right to rule from David’s throne.  Looking back to chapter 5:5 John was told of Jesus that He is “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David,” We have the promise from the words of Jesus that He will one day, as the qualified originator (root) and descendant of the throne of David, He will be the final and ultimate King of all.

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December 22 – Hanukkah Begins

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:11 (NIV)

On the very night that Jesus, the Son of God was born, an angel was sent by the Father to announce the event to shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem. God chose the shepherds to be the first, other than Mary and Joseph, to know that a promise had been fulfilled.  He said “a Savior has been born to you.”  The shepherds needed a Savior and they could personally benefit from His birth. Believing the words of the angels, the shepherds went to find the newborn baby.  After seeing and marveling at the event, they returned glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, exactly as it was told them.  Jesus was born for you and He was born for me, to be our Savior.  Each of us needs a Savior and He came for those in need.  What a great difference this has made in our lives. The promise of His coming was made as far back as the day Adam and Eve disobeyed God.  Let us listen to the angel’s message – “He is Christ the Lord.”

*Hanukkah, also spelled 'Chanukah', is the Jewish eight-day, "festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods.  The Story of Chanukah Video 2:15

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December 23 – Born to This Purpose, Born to Us

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”  Luke 2:11 (NIV)

We come back to this important announcement in the Gospel of Luke.  We've considered it once before, several days ago.  We do this to think again of the reason for His coming to earth.  The glitz and glamour that surrounds this time of the year as well as the many activities and commercial appeal can too easily cause us to lose focus on why the season is important to all.  The words the angel announced to the shepherds were important for them and they are important for us.  The shepherds response showed that they realized they needed a Savior.  The went immediately to find the baby.  They spread the news of what the angel had said, and the also praised God when they returned from seeing the baby.  Jesus came as a baby because we all needed a Savior.   As we have believed in Him He has saved us from the consequences of sin, the sin of rejecting God.  What a big difference that has made in our lives.  He has brought us to Himself by coming and becoming a human as we are.  He was born to us for this purpose.  We are His today if we have believed this Promise that He is the Messiah, the Lord.

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October 18 – The Real Amen

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:  These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.”  Revelation 3:14 (NIV)

The Apostle John, serving as God's prophet, records the things he saw and heard into the New Testament Book known as The Revelation of Jesus Christ.  More commonly called Revelation.  In chapters 2 & 3 our Lord Jesus delivers seven messages to the seven churches in Asia Minor.  We learn in this verse today how Jesus identified Himself when He calls Himself the Amen.  This is an important name but perhaps we hear the word 'amen' used so often that it has lost its real meaning.  The root meaning of 'amen' is the adjective 'faithful'.  Amen is derived from the Hebrew āmēn, which means “certainty,” “truth,” and “verily.” So in our verse, Jesus explains that His name is Amen because He is faithful and true.  He was faithful to God's promise to provide a means of salvation.  He came to earth, lived a perfect life and went to the Cross to die for each of us.  He is faithful in praying for us everyday as he has promised and when we pray 'in Jesus' Name,' we trust the promise that He is faithful and true, Amen. 

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April 1 – Resurrection Sunday, Just As He Said

“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” Matthew 28:6 (NIV)

We have now come to Resurrection Day, or Easter as many observe this day. The Bible reports several important messages which were given on the day Jesus was raised from the dead.  None of these messages are more important than the one read today in the record by Matthew in chapter 28. It is the message given by an angel to the two women who came looking for the body of Jesus. The angel had come from heaven that morning and had rolled away the stone to open the tomb where Jesus had been buried.  We believe that the angel did not need to roll away the stone to let Jesus out. He was already gone and that was the message the angel would tell those who came to look for Jesus. What a wonderful message that is for us too.  The one who had died for us, lived again and He is still living today as a part of our lives.  Jesus, the Son of God lives today, that is a promise He made and keeps. 

August 11 – Be Strong Now

““Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,” he said. “Peace! Be strong now; be strong.” When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.”” Daniel 10:19 (NIV)

Since he was in his mid-teens, Daniel had been an exile in Babylon - almost all his life. In these words, the prophet is replying to a message from God. We are reminded of what happens when the Word of God comes to us. God spoke to Daniel through an angel. That may not happen to us but He has given us His Word in the Bible. When we recognize the Lord speaking to us through His Word we can sense that it strengthens us.  So when we feel the need of spiritual strength we can find it in God's Word as he gave it to us.  This makes us eager to have him continue speaking to us. We too can say as Daniel did, “Speak my lord.”

June 20 – Guarding You In All Your Ways

“If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;”  Psalm 91:9-11 (NIV)

We've hear often about promises of guardian angels. We believe that they are watching over us although we can't see them. As we read this promise today, we are reminded who it is that gets this special protection. Notice that it is those who make the Lord, the Most High, their dwelling place and profess Him as their refuge. How do we dwell in the Most High? We do so by faith. We do so by believing the promises God has given to us. So let's remember that we live, or dwell in our Lord when we trust Him at all times – not just once in a while.  We learn to trust not only when things are tough but even when they are not so tough. Living in God is a constant that comes through a constant faith. 

December 25 - Christmas Day

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.’” Luke 2:10 (NIV)

The good news of the birth of Jesus was for everybody. The following verse, which we read yesterday, explains that the baby would be a Savoir – a very special Savior for He was Christ the Lord. And this Savior was not just for a small group of shepherds. He had come to be a Savior available to everybody – for all the people. The news from heaven was about a great joy available to everybody. We should never forget this. And what is it that brings us joy at Christmas? We should enjoy having time with friends and loved ones. We should enjoy the gifts. But the really greater joy comes from knowing our Savior. So enjoy the eternal life he gives and the assurance of His presence with us. And, if you do not know the Savior, you can right now – believe and receive the gift from God and you will have great joy and eternal life.

June 15

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”  Revelation 22:16 (NIV)

Our Lord has revealed Himself by giving us several names to show His attributes.  The last one is on the last page of our Bible. Notice the last name by which He identifies Himself – the Bright Morning Star. When is it that the morning star is visible? It’s when it is dark. It is still night, but the morning is coming soon. That is what He wants us to remember. During a dark period in our personal lives, Jesus is near. And we know it is still night in the world, but a better day is coming. That is when Jesus will come again – The Bright Morning Star.