13 And Moses said unto God, Behold,
when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The
God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me,
What is his name? what shall I say unto them? 14 And
God said unto Moses, I Am
That I Am: and he said, Thus
shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am
hath sent me unto you. –Exodus 3:13, 14 (KJV)
Several years ago there was an elderly lady in our
church who has since passed away. I recall visiting in her home
one day when she introduced me to a stray cat she had taken in a couple
of weeks earlier. This was a large male, sort of a garden variety
cat, with a most mean disposition. I have always thought myself
to have a way with cats and dogs and even standoffish ones will eventually
warm up to me, but not this one. He would have nothing to do with
me and actually hissed at me and tried to scratch men when I attempted
to pet him. His new owner laughed and said, “Don’t worry,
Brother Dan. He doesn’t like anyone except me.” This
was true, for she was the only person the cat would allow to handle
him. I asked what name she had given her new pet. “Oh,
I just call him ‘Cat.’” she replied.
Every time I think of this story it makes me smile.
I wanted her to give the cat a name, for even the lowliest of pets deserves
a name, yet she apparently thought Cat was as good a name as any.
Consider how all of us have been endowed with a name, yet even our one
name can take on different forms. For example, to the federal
government I am Daniel, although they actually know me by my Social
Security Number. To my church and friends I am Dan, Pastor Dan,
Preacher Dan, or Brother Dan. To some family members I am known
as Danny. All different names, yet each one is a reference to
the same person.
According to God’s Word, the Lord has names He
has given with which we can refer to Him. We utter the sacred
names of God in worship, prayer, praise, and adoration. In the
Old Testament He is God, Yahweh, God Almighty, the Most High, and the
Great I Am. In the New Testament He is Jesus Christ, Immanuel,
the Son of God, the Son of Man, Savior, Redeemer, the Great Physician,
King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. After the resurrection of Christ
came the Day of Pentecost and the Holy Spirit of God came to dwell in
and among mankind for all time. He is the Holy Spirit, the Comforter,
and Counselor. They are all one, manifestations and revelations
of the same God – the three are One.
Consider also that you have a name, and God knows
who you are. You are by no means a face in the crowd, for the
Lord knows you and desires to know you even better on a personal basis.
You are indeed a unique individual of immeasurable worth and potential
to God. Do not despair during the hard times and do not give up,
for the Lord has a wonderful plan for your life. Follow Him in
faith, keep looking up. Be of good cheer and be encouraged.
God bless you today.
