1 January 2011 – Feast of the Holy Name

Psalm 103; Gen. 17:1-16; Col. 2:6-12; John 16:23b-30

Walk before me and be blameless is the command God gives to Abraham. How do we do that? I need righteousness credits from somewhere because I am an abject failure at keeping that commandment. The covenant better not depend on me or it will be annulled very soon, but does that mean I am not to try to keep that commandment? The promise of God was that He would be Abraham’s God, Abraham would be father of many nations and that they would have a place that was their own. Circumcision was the sign but it didn’t establish the covenant, that came from obedience. There was no hope for anyone to walk blamelessly, even Abraham couldn’t do it, Abraham trusted God and it was counted to Him as righteousness. His hope wasn’t in the flesh, it was in God.

How is that Jesus can we whatever we ask in His Name will be given to us? Clearly we don’t see evidence of that in most of our lives. We don’t have all that we want, our Spirits groan within us on behalf of ourselves and others. Everyone doesn’t live forever, some if not most people suffer either physically, spiritually or emotionally. What does He mean by this? He prayed to the Father that the cup be taken from Him and then followed that with nevertheless not my will but yours. Is that our prayer? We come before the throne, Jesus says, with all rights and benefits of children in the house of God because of our faith in Him. It is tough to live this life because we experience pain and suffering when our Father could give to alleviate need. We know this isn’t His kingdom and we experience scarcity and lack because of sin, the world is what we have made it. What is the portion we seek most in this world, the Father or stuff of earth?

Am I abounding in thanksgiving because of what Christ has done for me? I doubt that people who know me well would describe me that way. He has done great things for me and I should be truly abounding in thanksgiving in my prayer life and in my life in general. How could I show thanks to God today by my life? What could I do that would show I am truly thankful for what I have whether the blessings of God be material or in Christian brothers and sisters? He is the author and perfecter of our salvation. It was His idea and He did all the work, should we not abound in thanksgiving to Jesus at all times? Today, in prayer, ask not what God can do for you, but what you can do for Him in gratitude for all He has done for you already. Give thanks that the Holy Name of Jesus is true, The Lord saves!

Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.