“At the Name of the LORD!” The central theme in our three passages this week is “authority.” In our culture, in the midst of an election year, there are many who want to throw their authority in our faces. We must be careful in acquiescing to anyone who simply claims authority. The scriptures tell us that ONLY God can give true authority. God authorized Moses, Paul and Jesus in the passages for this week. Let’s look at how we look for “the name of the LORD” to come into our lives, even today!
Monday January 30 -
Most of us have just listened to the State of the Union address by President Obama. We here this every year from the current standing President. Some of the content is assurance about how our country is doing. Moses, in this week’s passage from Deuteronomy 15 was giving his farewell address to the people, assuring them that God would raise up another leader for the people. When we listen to anyone, a politician, a teacher, a preacher, ANYONE, we should question their authority. Is their authority from God?
Tuesday January 31 -
Psalm 111 gives us only good information about God. (What other kind of information could there be?) It says, “God has gained renown by his wonderful deeds; the LORD is gracious and merciful.” Those words, along with many others from the psalm, give us the assurance that ONLY God has the authority that we ought to live by. When we check others’ authority we must use the psalmists words as our gauge. God works through many people. We just need to discern that we rely on the right ones!
Wednesday February 1 -
The psalmist continues, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding.” I don’t know about you, but I look for wisdom in the people God sends my way. There are many people who would talk a good talk, but have little or no wisdom, simply because they don’t have the authentic fear (respect) of the LORD. Think today about your many associations in life. Are there those who need to hear how they might better respect our God?
Thursday February 2 -
In the 8th chapter of I Corinthians Paul admonishes the people about the pitfalls of worshiping idols. He said, “Knowledge PUFFS up but love BUILDS up.” People who lack authority from God would tend to be puffed up. I don’t need to give you any examples. There are many out there duing this election year. But, we all know people who have an aura of God’s presence. When they speak, that kind of LOVE can be felt. At the name of the LORD, we bow down to worship!
Friday February 3 -
When Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, the people were amazed! He taught them as one having authority. Christ’s authority comes through in much of the teaching we hear in the church today. However, just as we need to assess all teaching we hear and finally follow, we continue to be amazed by the authority we witness in the people of God. At the name of [JESUS] every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is LORD! Thanks be to our God who brings us that authoritative name!