Posts in category Daily Devotions

God Has A Personal Name And It Is Yahweh

May06
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Warner Smith

How well do you think you know God?  Do you think it is possible for anyone to know His name?  Is His name God?  It might shock you to know that according to the Scripture we can know His name, and that there is much for us to learn from this disclosure.

2 God spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am the Lord. 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord I did not make myself known to them. 4 I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as sojourners.     Exodus 6:2–4 (ESV)

God is telling Moses that He has revealed something about Himself to Moses which He had not revealed to Abraham, Isaac or Jacob. Think about that!  Would it not be incredible to know God so well that He would tell you things about Himself which He had told no one else.  We all have friends in whom we confide, but we only confide our secrets to close personal friends.

Moses was so close to God that God would tell him what he did not tell His other friends.  Abraham was His friend but God did not disclose to Abraham what He was telling Moses.

and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. James 2:23 (NASB)

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob knew two of the three names.  In the passage above the word translated God in Hebrew (the original O.T. language) is “Elohim.”  The word translated Almighty in Hebrew is “Adonai.”  The word translated Lord in Hebrew is “Yahweh.”  This is the personal name of God.  The word is the “to be” verb in Hebrew.  It literally means “He is.”  In other words God’s name means, I Am or I exist.  This name “Yahweh” is the name of God which the Hebrew people knew as the ineffable name of God.

They took the commandment not to take Yahweh’s name in vain so seriously that they refused to speak His name at all.  Their rationale was that if one never uttered His name then they could never take His name in vain.

You do not have to be able to read Hebrew to find God’s name in the O.T.  Look in your O.T. and find the word “Lord.”  Look closely and you will most likely discover that the word is written LORD.  When the “ord” are written in small capital letters “ORD” then the word which is being translated into English is “Yahweh” the personal name of God which the Hebrew people considered to be to sacred to speak.

Do you consider God’s name sacred?  How do you show your respect for His name?  Taking God’s name in vain can be done through our speech, but there are other ways in which His name may be taken in vain that do not involve speech.

Perhaps the greatest way we take His name in vain is when we profess to know Him but live a lifestyle which is at odds with His word and does not honor or acknowledge Him. I want to so live that I know, honor and obey!

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Learning from the Wisdom & Experience of Others

May05
2012 Written by Warner Smith

One of the first disciple habits which I began to practice following my conversion was to read the chapter in Proverbs which corresponded with the day of the month.  So today on the fifth of the month the devotion topic will be taken from the fifth chapter of Proverbs.  The book of Proverbs is the accumulated wisdom which is passed down from a father to his son.  While everyone receives pearls of wisdom from parents the biblical author has much which we (particularly men) need to hear.

First, we learn an important principle for learning from another’s wisdom.

1 My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, Proverbs 5:1 (ESV)

We must be attentive.  We have to be willing participants in the learning process.  This is why so much accumulated wisdom has been lost over the generations.  Often the person who possesses the wisdom is ready, willing and able to transmit that wisdom to the next generation, but those who need to learn are not ready to receive.  As a parent we need to be constantly transmitting our values and accumulated wisdom to our children because we can never be sure when they are listening.

Next, we learn the purpose for our paying attention to the wisdom of others.

2 that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge. Proverbs 5:2 (ESV)

Each of us have much to learn.  Beware of anyone who thinks he/she knows it all.  Those who have followed God will be the first to admit their own ignorance and waywardness.  Learning discretion (the freedom to decide what should be done in a particular situation) is a worthy goal and should be a topic of interest for every Christian.

Now the lesson and point of all this accumulated wisdom is simple and severe.

3 For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, 4 but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol; 6 she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it. Proverbs 5:3-6 (ESV)

Be careful!  You really cannot trust your lying eyes.  The weakness in your character is known by your enemy.  Satan will never show you the consequence of an action, he will simply entice you. As a pastor for twenty-four years let me tell you that moral failings bring great heartache, not just to the offender or the offended but to many innocents whom you would never wish to harm, but who will be harmed more than you can comprehend.

Each of needs to hear and learn this lesson, because the statement “there but by the grace of God, go I” is true.  None of us are beyond experiencing a moral failing! For this reason each of us who name Christ as our Lord, and claim to love our spouses, our children, and our testimony need to be vigilant and guard our eyes and our hearts.  Each of us need to follow Job’s example when he said:

1 I have made a solemn promise never to look with lust at a woman. Job 31:1 (GN)

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Being A Godly Man Part 2

May04
2012 Written by Warner Smith

Satan’s modus operandi (a distinct pattern of operation that indicates or suggests the work of a single criminal in more than one crime) is to divide and conquer.  He seeks to destroy the affection that husbands have for their wife and the affection which a wife has for her husband.  As a Christian man it is prudent that I understand Satan’s method of attack and also that I become aware that my marriage is going to be a target of his attack.  Too many Christians are blissfully ignorant that Satan would attack their marriage.  To each and every married Christian I carefully and boldly declare; WATCH OUT!

You have an enemy in this world and it is not your spouse, it is Satan.

8 Be sober! Be on the alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. 9 Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your brothers in the world. 1 Peter 5:8–9 (HCSB)

The chief means for resisting Satan as a godly man is to obey Christ.  In particular every married Christian man needs to obey the command to love your wife as Christ loved the Church.

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. Ephesians 5:22–33 (ESV)

Did you get that? You are to love your wife and the pattern for your love of her is Christ’s love for His church.  Wow!  Does Christ ever quit loving His bride the church?  No!  So I am to keep loving my bride.  I am to love her as I love myself.  If you do not love yourself then you are also disobeying the second part of the second commandment.

36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”37 He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important commandment. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36–40 (HCSB)

Unfortunately many men whose life does not turn out as they had planned become bitter.  This bitterness will sometime turn inward and develop into self loathing.  Other times this bitterness is directed outward and poisons all other relationships.  Men in particular need to know that they are much more than the sum of their 401k or of the things they have accumulated.  True success is measured by submitting to God’s will for your life.

If you are married, you can rest assured that one part of God’s perfect and permissive will for you life is that you love your wife.  Love is a choice.  You can choose to be in love or out of love.  Satan wants you to believe the lie that people fall in and out of love and that there is nothing you can do about it.  That is asinine (extremely stupid or foolish)!  You chose, courted and proposed to your wife.  During the course of your courtship you loved her.  Any negative changes to your feelings are within your and her power to alter. Your feelings are certainly under God’s authority.  If you find yourself feeling less love for your wife than you once did, then confess.  Ask God to increase your love for your wife.  Ask God to protect your marriage from Satan’s attack.

As a Christian man you need to understand that by loving and supporting your wife you are giving your children a godly example. Satan knows this and he is fighting you, and will to continue to fight you on the home front.  He always seeks to divide then conquer.  If he can keep you preferring to be away working, because you think providing things for your family is how you love them, then he wins.  Please understand that your wife and kids need less stuff and more of you!  There is no substitute for quality time and you can never know when quality time will occur, you cannot schedule it.  Therefore give your wife and children quantity time and the quality time will take care of itself.

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Being A Godly Man

May03
2012 Written by Warner Smith

Being a Christian is the hardest thing I do in my life. Being a good husband and father is no picnic either. The reason for this difficulty to lead a Christian life and maintain the important relationships in life is because we are attacked by Satan regularly.  This is called Spiritual Warfare.  We should pray warfare prayers.

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, Ephesians 6:10–18 (ESV)

We should pray on this spiritual armor every morning.  This is also an excellent means to conduct a spiritual inventory each day also.  As I pray on the belt of truth I examine my own honesty, as I pray on the breastplate of righteousness I consider my own personal righteousness, etc.

My relationship with my wife is a vital part of my being a godly man.  I am her leader and protector.  I should put forth all my energy in maintaining this relationship.  My relationship with my wife has great impact upon my relationship with Christ.

For example the effectiveness of my prayers can be hindered if my relationship with my wife is not right.

7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. 1 Peter 3:7 (ESV)

As a godly man I am to live with my wife in an understanding way.  It is easy for men to become demanding and domineering over time.  Think of the character Archie Bunker.  I am to be understanding of my wife. and not overbearing.  Godly men will honor their wife.  Think how you would handle a valuable and delicate object such as a Stradivarius violin were it placed in your hands.  Think about how you would instruct your young son to handle it were it in his hands.  Your wife is far more valuable, and her spirit is much more delicate.  She is the weaker vessel.  This text is not implying nor teaching that husbands are superior to their wives, but that men and women are different.

Adrian Rogers once helped me to better understand this comparison.  He said men are like denim and women like silk.  Denim is tougher than silk but not more valuable.  Silk is far more valuable than denim.  Husbands your wife is fine silk, she is delicate and you can severely and easily damage her spirit by being inconsiderate, and dictatorial.

As a Christian man I am commanded to love my wife.  I must be aware that Satan also knows how important it is for me to do this and that He will do everything in his power to attack this relationship.  This is why divorce is such a personal tragedy for the families who suffer it and also why so many marriages today suffer this tragic end.

If you have a desire to be a godly man you need to take notice of how you are living with your wife, and acknowledge that Satan is also taking notice and waiting for the most opportune time to attack.

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We Live Like Our Obedience To God Is Optional

May02
2012 Written by Warner Smith

The Hebrew people revered the name of God and feared breaking the third commandment of taking God’s name in vain so seriously that they worked out a system which prevented them from ever saying His name.

“You shall not take the name of the Lord [YHWH] your God in vain, for the Lord [YHWH] will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain. Exodus 20:7

God’s name came to be known among the Hebrew people as the ineffable name. They used euphemisms like “the Name” for God’s name instead of speaking it directly. When they saw the name Yahweh written they would read the word Adonai in its place. This was known and became natural to every literate Hebrew.

While I believe that we may take God’s name in vain through our speech, I also recognize that there are other ways in which His name may be taken in vain that do not involve speech.

I believe that the greatest way we take His name in vain is when we profess to know Him, but live a lifestyle which is at odds with His word and does not honor or acknowledge Him.

As the Son of God Jesus has command of the entire universe and even the wind and sea obey him.

23 When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. 25 And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!” 26 He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. 27 The men were amazed, and said, “What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” Matthew 8:23–27 (NASB)

As the Son of God Jesus has command of the unclean spirits and the demons of hell obey Him.

21 They went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and began to teach. 22 They were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23 Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24 saying, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” 25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” 26 Throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him. 27 They were all amazed, so that they debated among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” Mark 1:21–27 (NASB)

Why is it that so many of us who claim to know Jesus as our Savior and Lord do not obey Him? The absolute necessity of obedience to Christ is clearly taught and expected of each of us.

“He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36 (NASB)

Blind obedience in the face of terrible persecution was the practice of the earliest Christians.

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.         Acts 5:29 (NASB)

Something has happened in our practice of Christianity! Somewhere along the way we have lost sight of how truly powerful and awesome and awe inspiring our Lord truly is. Somehow we have began to think that obedience to His commandments and the Holy Spirit’s leadership is optional. It is not! Obedience is necessary! Yes we will all fail and yes perfection for us is impossible. These facts should break our hearts, however, and NOT be used to give us an excuse to quit struggling with our own sin and seeking to become more obedient!

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