The Name

I spent a few hours in my flower garden this morning. The Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena globosa) was beginning to overrun the garden until a spider mite infestation slowed them down. I didn’t want to spray insecticide because there are so many varieties of butterflies enjoying the near-by Lantanas and Zinnias. As I wheeled a full wheelbarrow of dead plant material to the far back corner of our property, I couldn’t help but compare my life to my garden. My mother always told me that the day would come when the years would fly by. As an impatient teenager waiting for my sixteenth birthday and again as a frazzled young mother of three boys, I never believed her.

The season of life that I am in now has proven once again how very wise that precious lady really was. Can this really be September already? Have I done anything worthwhile for my Jesus this year? Have I wasted time on things that I have already long forgotten? Have I impacted anyone’s life this year at all?

“How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.” James 4:14 (NLT)

I have noticed a sad trend throughout God’s people lately. Our social media posts are becoming more and more negative, even hateful. I couldn’t help but ask myself, “Why?” Most certainly the world around us has become more and more vulgar and evil. However, spewing vomit back at a lost and angry person does no more good than trying to put out a fire with a can of gasoline.

“A fool’s wrath is quickly and openly known, but a prudent man ignores an insult.” Proverbs 12:16 (AMPC)

Let me be perfectly clear. I am not saying we should not take a stand. I am not saying that we shouldn’t speak up about the current issues. What I am saying is that there is a right way to do it.

“A gentle answer turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath.” Proverbs 15:1

I believe that all of us can agree that the world needs Jesus. The question is How can we have a burden for the lost if we are continually angry and frustrated?

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.” Ephesians 6:12

There’s a simple step that each and every Jesus follower can do every single day that would change the world…It merely is to spend time in His Word every day. Ask the Holy Spirit how to apply what you’ve read to your own life.

“You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” Psalm 139:16 (NLT)

The world is shouting, but the Lord is a gentleman, He speaks in a still soft voice
(1Kings 19:12). We will not hear Him if we won’t stop, quiet ourselves, and listen. He knows full well how our day will unfold because He has already been there.

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father.”
John 14:12

Jesus made it very clear that we have a job to do and He has already given us everything we need to accomplish it. The necessary tools are found by knowing God’s Word for ourselves. Christian books and podcasts are fantastic, but, they must never take the place of reading our Bibles for ourselves. Our strength and confidence must be in the name of Jesus Christ and in His name alone. Faith in the power of His Name is where victory exists.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” John 15:5-6

Just as I threw away diseased and dead plant material today, so too will we become spiritually sick and dead if we do not spend time with the Lord and in His Word.

On the other hand, there are incredible results that occur when we start every day with Him:
“These signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; …After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. They went out and proclaimed everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through the accompanying signs.” Mark 16:17-20

Jesus sat down. He has done all that is needed. We must believe, not in ourselves, but in Him. In His Name.

I know what you’re thinking, “Jesus is the Son of God. He had the Spirit without measure” True, so, let’s look at the disciples:

“But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, stand up and walk!” Acts 3:6

Peter was an ordinary, blue-collar, rough around the edges kind of guy. He wasn’t wealthy or highly educated. He just knew Jesus and believed what He said. Then, Peter went out and did what He saw Jesus do:

“When Jesus saw him lying there and when he realized that the man had been disabled a long time already, …Jesus said to him, “Stand up! Pick up your mat and walk.”
John 5:6 & 8

It’s September, my friends. We only have three and a half months left to this year.

Let’s make it count. Let’s be the Hope and Truth the world is longing for.
Let’s bring healing to the broken, the confused and the lost.

When we do, this will indeed be a year to remember.

“God’s plan is to make known his secret to his people, this rich and glorious secret which he has for all peoples. And the secret is that Christ is in you, which means that you will share in the glory of God.” Colossians 1:27 (GNT)