A few months ago at Bible study we had a discussion about names, specifically the Name of God. I cannot recall a lot of what we talked about but I do remember that we discussed at length that God wants us to know His Name and to say His Name quite often. The discussion was triggered by the mention of the Dale Carnegie “Sales Advantage” training I had taken many years ago when I was a John Deere salesman. Dale Carnegie’s training courses will tell us that a person’s own name is the sweetest thing that they desire to ever hear.
You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. ~ John 14:14 +++
So we started looking into more scripture about the name of God. God loves to hear us say His name and when we pray we should be sure to talk to God in a more personal manner. We need to direct our conversations to God and be conscious to also close our prayers by using His name.
God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” ~ Exodus 3:14
From this verse, it makes me think that God told Moses that He wanted to be called, “I am.” It is a confusing verse to me and whenever I have read it, I have pondered over its meaning as I am doing so again now. I am not well versed in other languages, especially Hebrew, but it might seem like the Hebrew phrase, “ehyeh ašer ehyeh” would translate in English to, “I Will Be What I Will Be” although most Bibles would likely translate it to “I Am That I Am.” We also know that God told us that He is, “The Alpha and the Omega.”
But it should always be important for us to remember that our greatest mission in life is to glorify the name of God in whatever we do, whenever we can, wherever we are.
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 +++
We also should be aware that there will be those who will be not who they say they are, maybe even a false prophet.
They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget my name, just as their ancestors forgot my name through Baal worship. ~ Jeremiah 23:27
I have read that the word “glory” in Greek is “doxa” and the word isn’t used much these days in my church but when I was growing up the Doxology was always a part of each Sunday morning service. A definition of Doxology would be; a hymn or form of words containing an ascription of praise to God. But it is best described as; “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.” King David praised the name of God in Psalms 138:1-2
I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
before the “gods” I will sing your praise.
I will bow down toward your holy temple
and will praise your name
for your unfailing love and your faithfulness,
for you have so exalted your solemn decree
that it surpasses your fame.
Our family and friends know us by the names we were given by our parents at birth. God knows us a bit differently.
The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. ~ Revelation 3:12 +++
Every believer will be known to God with a new name at the end of time for this earth. As we were told in John 14:14, In Jesus’ name, Amen.