Friday, May 8, 2020

When God Whispers Your Name


When God Whispers Your Name by Max Lucado

Max Lucado, an author, minister and speaker, is someone who has given me much peace and encouragement over the years. I’ll share a few gems I found in this book.

John 2:1-2: On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.

 Jesus was invited to the party. Why? Because he was known as someone fun. Someone they wanted there. He wasn’t famous yet. The miracle of changing water into wine wasn’t known by anyone there except the men who drew the water and Jesus’ mother.

The bible doesn’t say he preached a sermon at the wedding. He was someone who enjoyed parties, who liked to have fun. Who said Christians shouldn’t have fun?

Heroes can doubt.

John the Baptist is definitely a hero in the history of Christianity, sent to introduce Jesus’ ministry. Yet toward the end of his life, from prison, he wondered if Jesus was who he’d thought.

Jesus did not rebuke him for these doubts, but sent him words of encouragement. Matthew 11:1-15.

IN Acts 8, Philip was involved in sending Christianity to Africa, because he listened to what the Holy Spirit told him to do.

People who worship Jesus as God and hold that the Bible is the inspired word of God, sometimes have different understandings of what some of those words from God mean. If God accepts someone as his child, shouldn’t I call them my brother, my sister?

Because of Calvary, I have choices. I can choose the fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5, including peace. I can live forgiven. And forgiving.

Mr. Lucado reminded me of one of my favorite passages, Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Jesus asks me to leave my burdens, my sack of rocks, my regrets, with him.

One day God will whisper our name, a new name he has made just for us. He must have quite a future planned for us, since he thinks we need a new name for it.

Revelation 2: 17: Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.

And all the wonder we can imagine of Heaven won’t come close to the truth.

1 Corinthians 2: 9: However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”—the things God has prepared for those who love him—

4 comments:

  1. Thank you for this post, Kathy!! One of my favorite devotionals is"Grace for the Moment," by Max Lucado. His writing style and easy to read/remember devotionals are spectacular!

    I love that you said "I can live forgiven. And forgiving!" Both are needed and wonderful!! :)

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  2. John the Baptist doubting seems almost as human as Elijah.

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    1. Yes, yes, truly.:) thank God for these people He's given us to see, their flaws as well as their accomplishments.

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