As the youngest of four and the only girl, my three older and wiser brothers insist on referring to me most of the time as, "The General." Over the years they have honored me with various adjectives and nicknames describing my bossiness, as well as, delighted in ongoing remarks about my apparent shortcomings involving vertical challenges. My brothers, Moe, Larry, and Curly, have also enlisted my husband, Ham, in their antics making family occasions and holidays blissfully eventful!
In 1533, the diminutive wife of the Duke of Orleans, Catherine de Medici, commissioned a cobbler to design a pair of high-heels both for fashion and to increase her stature. Later in history, around 1660, a shoemaker named Nicholas Lestage created a high-heeled shoe for Louis XIV. Some were more than 4" and were decorated in various battle scenes. I owe a tremendous debt to these entrepreneurs for their inspirations which have aided in my ability to overcome the artillery of teasing from my rivals, Moe, Larry, Curly, and Ham. I never leave home without at least one pair of my most valuable parts of armor - my heels! Some are fashionable, most are at least 4" but ALL are fit for battle any time short jokes appear on the battlefield. If my heels bore the pictures of my war zones, intense warnings would be needful for all who beheld their sight. I must confess, "Shodding my feet with the gospel of peace," is often not on my radar when defending myself against these four increasingly balding beasts, all of which have misplaced a great deal of the hair from the top of their heads to the covering of their ears.
Aside from "The General," their most infamous nickname for me was "Maggot." I'm speaking in the past tense because God sent an angel of a sister-in-law to stand tall in the midst of my scorn insisting that "Maggot" crossed every line of sibling abuse. According to Webster, a maggot is the legless, soft-bodied, worm-like larvae of various flies, often found in decaying material. The slang term is despicable person. While my sister-in-law, Nancy, was certainly justified in demanding a cease fire with respects to "Maggot calling" God has truly shown me the meaning of Genesis 50:20. "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done." I know my brothers truly love me and did not mean it for harm. As brothers often do, they toughen you up so that when the world swings and hits you right square in the mouth, the pain isn't so bad. They prepared me for damaging words that would be a step up and nothing would leave a lasting wound. They instilled perseverance because no matter the nick name, adjective, or joke, they knew that if I could get back up after all their blows, their 5'1 1/2" baby sister could withstand the storms of life.
There is no name game when it comes to the name of Jesus. In Philippians 2:9-10 The Bible says, "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and those on earth, and of those under the earth." God did not mess around when naming His one and only Son, Jesus. There are many ways God reveals Himself to us in scripture.
Jehovah Tsidkenu highlighted in Jeremiah 23:6 "THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."2 Corinthians 5:21.
Jehovah Shalom found in Judges 6:24, "THE LORD IS PEACE." John 14:27 reminds us as Jesus speaks, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
Jehovah Shammah (Yahweh) "THE LORD IS THERE" written in Ezekiel 48:35. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1
Jehovah Rapha "THE LORD WHO HEALS" recorded in Exodus 15: 26. "For He was wounded for our transgressions and by His stripes, we are healed." Isaiah 53:5
Jehovah Jireh "THE LORD WHO PROVIDES" Genesis 22:14. "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19
Jehovah Nissi "THE LORD OUR BANNER" Exodus 17:15 "He brought me to the banqueting house, And his banner over me was love." Song of Solomon 2:4
Jehovah Rohi "THE LORD OUR SHEPHERD" Psalm 23:1 Jesus tells us in John 10:11, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
God also knows our names and we need to be reminded of who we are in Christ. No matter the names we are called by the world. No matter what we may think of ourselves. We are valuable to God because He gave His only Son that we might live. John 3:16
God calls us ACCEPTED:
John 1:12 We are God's children.
John 15:15 We are Christ's friend.
I Corinthians 6:20 We have been bought with a price. We belong to God.
Ephesians 1:5 We have been adopted as God's children.
Colossians 1:14 We are complete in Christ.
God calls us SECURE:
Romans 8:35-38 We cannot be separated from the love of God.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 We have been established, anointed, and sealed by God.
Philippians 3:20 We are citizens of heaven.
God calls us SIGNIFICANT:
Matthew 5:13-14 We are the salt and light of the earth.
John 15:16 We have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
Acts 1:8 We are personal witnesses of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 We are ministers of reconciliation for God
I want to encourage you today and every day to remember and declare the precious name of Jesus and all that He is to those who follow Him. In prayer, remind Him who He is to you. There is no better time than today, Good Friday, to begin or continue to lift up the name of Jesus. In this season when our hearts are focused on all that He has done for us, let us daily be reminded in John 14:6 as Jesus tells us, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, No one comes to the Father except through me," because Jesus, the name above every name, is the only certainty we have! Hebrews 13:8
Assure the devil every day that his deception cannot harm you. Remind him of who you are in Christ by the truth of what God's Word says about you. In my blog "So Far So Good, I confessed that I had allowed Satan to catch up with me at times in my life, but when it comes to "The Name Game," I use a powerful weapon given to me by God. It was right under my nose all the time. Confess God's precious Word over your life and though the devil may think he is fast on your heels, he will never be able to stand up to God's spoken and written Word. Above all else, remember the sweetest name of all, the precious name of Jesus.
I must go to continue packing for my upcoming family trip. Yes, I have my highest heels!! Without them, I must admit I might not pass the height requirement, leaving my grandson to go the rides alone. Heels or no heels, Moe, Larry, Curly, and Ham, wouldn't think of braving the thrills with him. They can't risk getting the few hairs left on their precious heads out of place! Continue to fight the good fight my friends. Join me next time when I have a feeling the subject might have something to do with repentance and forgiveness, especially if I tell you about the time......................
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