The Name of the Lord
Have you ever thought about the meaning of your name? The meaning of a name is more important in some cultures than others. In Scripture, the meaning of a name can tell you a lot about a specific person or the character of that person.
Similarly, the name of the Lord is not just a common name. The Lord’s name is meant to carry the identity, character, and actions of God. That is why Scripture tells us to call upon the name of the Lord as a means of help and comfort.
God’s name tells us who He is. He is God, the Creator and Ruler of everything on the earth. He is the one who is above everything else in all the earth. That means He is more powerful and more wise than anyone else too.
God’s name also tells us about His character. We learn in Scripture that God is faithful, merciful, loving, and strong—His presence is a place of protection for those who follow Him.
The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
Proverbs 18:10 NIV
God’s name also tells us about His actions. He rescues and saves His children. He fights for the weak and He provides for the needy.
All of these good traits are wrapped up in the name of the Lord. When we call upon His name, we are trusting and believing that God is who He says He is.
What other attributes of God’s character come to mind when you think about Him? Take a moment to thank Him for who He is and all that He has done for you.
Centering Our Hearts
One of the most important biblical topics is your own heart. Throughout the biblical story, God shows that He is not nearly as interested in your money, time, or service as much as He is your heart.
Why is this important? Jesus taught his disciples that the heart is the center of our lives. Our emotions and our desires flow from the condition of our heart. If God gets access to our heart, then the rest of our lives follow after.
In Matthew 6:21, Jesus says that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. The things that we treasure in our life reveal where our heart truly is. The things that we think about, spend our money on, and use our energy to attain—that is where our heart is.
But it's not enough to just not let our hearts dwell on those things. Instead, we need to train our hearts to dwell on Jesus. The apostle Paul encourages us to dwell on the things that are of God:
"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right,...