A new name!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.
(Revelation 3:12 (ESV))

“and my own new name.”

If you are like me, you have probably read this passage before and did not comprehend the meaning of the word recorded to the Church in Philadelphia.

There are three distinct names that will be written on those who hold on to what they have, who hold on to their faith in Jesus and the truth that comes from that faith.
1. The name of my God
2. The name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem
3. Jesus’ new name

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.
(Acts 4:12 (NIV))

I am only speculating, but does this mean that once everything has unfolded and we are in heaven with Jesus, He will have a new name because there will be no one left for Him to save? Yeshua, His Hebrew name, means a savior or a deliverer. It stands to reason, and inferred from this passage in Revelation, that this means that once this part of His persona is complete, He will take upon Himself a new name to reflect His new status in much the same manner that those who are victorious will be given a new name.

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.
(Revelation 2:17 (NIV))

There are so many things contained within God’s Word that we read and will only completely understand once they have unfolded according to His plan. They are the things that will probably happen just when we think that nothing could get any better. I don’t profess to know what His new name will be, but I do know that it will be magnificent. I also know that I long to be in His presence when this day occurs for I love the current name, the name by which we are saved.

A new name!

Copyright 1998 – 2022 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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We must never take our eyes off of Jesus!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

Remember Lot’s wife!
(Luke 17:32 (NIV))

Why do you think that Jesus told His disciples to remember a woman who was turned into a pillar of salt?

If you say that it was because she looked back you are on the right track, but it there more to this?

Jesus was telling His disciples how the events will unfold in the days of the Son of Man. He first used lightning as a reference, and then He spoke of the days of Noah. His third example was that of the days of Lot. Lot, his two daughters, and his wife were physically taken out of the city by the angels who had stayed there. They were snatched out of certain destruction and in much the same way that we believe the church will be raptured.

What happened?

I have recently seen a video series that discussed this very topic as a foreshadowing of the church. When Abraham and Lot parted ways, Lot chose to go to the valley where Sodom and Gomorrah were located. Before their destruction, this valley was like the Garden of Eden. Lot chose to live there and even though he was found to be righteous, he and his family had ties to the area. It was their life. Keep in mind that the reason Abraham and Lot parted ways was because the size of their flocks and their servants had grown too large for them to stay together. In the story of Sodom and Gomorrah’s destruction, all that we hear about are four people: Lot, his two daughters, and his wife. Perhaps they had family or friends whom they cared about that were still in the city. Perhaps the flocks and the servants were still there. Perhaps Lot’s wife looked back to see if anyone could have survived. Perhaps she turned back because she couldn’t stand the thought of leaving people behind whom she cared about. Perhaps she had grown accustom to her life there and simply did not want to lose it. All of these things are characteristics that we have probably all had at some point in our lives.

If Jesus were to return this very moment to snatch you out of certain destruction, certain tribulation, would you turn to look back at what you would be leaving? Would you turn back to see if your family and friends were still there? Would you look back at the possessions that you are leaving? Based on how Jesus used the story of Lot’s wife to warn His disciples, what do you think would happen? What would happen if you take your eyes off of Jesus? What would happen if you look back at the sinful, fallen world?

We don’t know when Jesus will return for His church, but we do know that we must stay vigilant. We must stay obedient. We are to follow Jesus. We are to always look to Jesus. He is to be our focus. He is to be our rock. He is to be our shepherd. He is to be our ever present help in times of trouble.

We must never take our eyes off of Jesus!

Copyright 1998 – 2021 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Hold on to what you have!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him 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 him my new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
(Revelation 3:11-13 (NIV))

Hold on to what you have!

Have you honestly given thought to what you do have? What was the first thing that came to mind when you read that question? Was it your home? Perhaps it was your car. Perhaps you are not as material obsessed and what you thought of was your family. Perhaps you even went to the point of thinking about your life and all that you have been blessed with.

Now, step back and take a look at all of these things through the eyes of God. Did He send Jesus to die on the cross so that you could have a nice home or a nice car? Did He send Jesus so that you could have a loving family? Do you honestly think that Jesus came so that you could live your life in any manner that you choose?

Jesus came to offer to us the most prized possession that we could ever be given. He came to offer us salvation from our sins and the laws of sin and death. If you profess Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, then that is what you have. It is a possession that cannot be taken away, but it can be relinquished by turning away. It can be lost by not recognizing the tricks and lies of the enemy and turning to these life robbing sins once more. Professing a belief in Jesus as your Lord and Savior is only the beginning. It is a starting point, but it is not the finish line of the race. Paul often spoke of faith in Jesus as a race, a race that we must not only start, but one that we must finish.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
(Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV))

We cannot sign up to run the race and then sit on the sidelines. We will not receive the prize. We must hold on to what we have. We must embrace what we have been given. We must not allow anything or anyone to keep us from the finish that will allow us to receive the prize.

Hold on to what you have!

Copyright 1998 – 2019 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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