E-votional - Names
April 30, 2002
Verse:

"But Moses said to God, “If I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?"

Genesis 3:13 (NRSV)

Thought:

   God's response to Moses was not, "the burning bush" nor was the response "the creator". When God responded to Moses' question, there was no mention of gender, height, depth, age or color, rather it was simple, yet including a depth that transcended everything.

   Hear the Good News, God is "I Am Who I Am." Think about it, God Is. Why is it that we go through such lengths and trouble to peg and define God? Individually we all come to know God is a variety of context. Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer. But there is another depth of our knowledge and experience of God. My friends call me a variety of names, because they know me in different ways. And for each name, there is meaning behind the name. But it is God who knows me as I am, and each name or nickname I have earned or been given, serve as a bridge to get to know me better. So as I refer to God as mine, I could spend forever talking about what and who He means to me. I like to think, rather I know I know Him. What is your name for YHWH? What is your name for God?

Prayer: 

   Gracious God, You Are. From the depth of my heart, You dwell within me. I know You by Your creativity, by Your redeeming love and grace and by Your sustaining power and strength. I also know You by the way You have met me and embraced me. Help me to introduce You another that they might come to know You from the depth of their heart. Thank You for all that You have done in my life and all You will continue to do, for ask this through Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.