Prov. 8:17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
I was talking with a friend who was concerned about her husband’s fears and uncertainty for the future. She felt he was too focused on all the things that are missing in his life right now. I had to remind her that she was a born again child of the living God and her husband had not stepped into that relationship yet. Her relationship with God is on a first name basis.
When the Lord talks to her He calls her by her name and she responds in like manner saying, “Yahweh, Jehovah, or Jesus.” Her husband, on the other hand, is living and trying to access life from the position of an outsider. He is looking in on what God is perceived to be and he may not have the assurance his wife has in her faith because she knows her God personally. Dan. 11:32b But the people who know their God will display strength and take action.
When the Lord talks to her He calls her by her name and she responds in like manner saying, “Yahweh, Jehovah, or Jesus.” Her husband, on the other hand, is living and trying to access life from the position of an outsider. He is looking in on what God is perceived to be and he may not have the assurance his wife has in her faith because she knows her God personally. Dan. 11:32b But the people who know their God will display strength and take action.
This is one of the most amazing and fantastic things that happen to an individual who becomes a blood-washed child of the living God. We who know our God have the opportunity to come into relationship with our heavenly Father through Jesus Christ and we become children who are known on a first name basis. Rom. 8:15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” This is a hard concept for many to accept because it must be done by faith in Christ and the belief that God is initiating this covenant relationship.
God knows us by name and we also know Him by name. We will spend an eternity finding out the depths of all the Lord’s name because of the infinite nature of our God. He will always be approachable throughout eternity and will forever reveal the full beauty of all the meanings and riches of His name. The name God wants us to know and love is the name of Jesus. For God has exalted His name above every name that is named. Phil 2:9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. It does not get much plainer than that. Jesus is the name to know and know it intimately and receive it by faith.
Friendship with God is possible and actually expected from God’s point of view. James 2:23 And the Scripture was fulfilled, saying, “And Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God. Jesus made a remark that expressed friendship was the relationship He desired. John 15:15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. What an awesome thought that God wants friendship with all those He has created.
Through the cross and the blood of Jesus Christ, God has made it possible for every living person on earth to enter into a loving friendship with the All Mighty God of the universe. Think about how overwhelming it would be if we were trying to get to God on our own good works. The pressure would be too great to handle and we would end up ruled by a religious self-righteousness and full of doubts. God’s gift of friendship is righteous and already done for us. We just have to say, “Yes, Lord, I accept your gift of eternal life through Jesus our Lord.”
Psalm 103:14 For He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust. Only a God who knows our frame and humanity can reach out and create a way of salvation that brings us ever closer to His Majesty and loving heart. Wow, God knows my name and I can call Him anytime whether my life is going well or seems misdirected. I can count on His perfect love for me to guide me back to His side where I can say, “Jesus you are so good to me,” and hear the Lord say, “I love you Norm.” Wow! Count me in that blessing any day. Prov. 8:17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
Hi Norm…. love your blog… it made me think of me with my husband. I am so grateful that the Lord knows me by name and walks with me everyday…. It fills me with so much peace and joy. Thank you for putting it into words… Love you much!