A name is a source of identification. When somebody calls us by speaking our name, we feel inclined to respond. As a Christian, I am learning that contacting the Lord requires me to say His name. When the name Jesus gets brought up, a fleeting image of the cross or a vision of the Bible might run through my mind initially. As modern day believers, the name of Jesus impacts and enlivens our Christian life daily.
The Supreme, the “I Am”
Philippians 2:9-10 depicts a powerful image of every knee bowing in the name of Jesus. The supremacy of the Lord’s name is magnified in this picture and shows the strong effect that His name can have. Given this high position, the name of the Lord is revealed in specific ways throughout the Bible. In the Old Testament, God is referred to as Jehovah, meaning “I am”. While this may seem like an unfinished sentence, “I Am” indicates that Jesus can be whatever we need. While I may need different attributes at different times, I am always in need of Jesus. He is already everything we could possibly need. Rather than seeking specific things, we can seek Him and He will spontaneously fulfill our needs.
Salvation in His Name
In the New Testament, Jesus is called the one who “will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). As our Savior, the Lord continually intercedes for us and saves us throughout the day. We are always in need of salvation and the name of Jesus is the way to receive this necessity. Acts 4:12 says, “And there is salvation in no other, for neither is there another name under heaven given among men in which we must be saved.” The rich name of Jesus supplies us with everything that He is. Uniting ourselves to His great name makes us His counterpart and representatives in the world today.
Available as Breath
A wonderful revelation regarding the name of Jesus is that it is available all the time. God has made salvation available to “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord” (Acts 2:21). If we desire to contact the Lord, we must take the initiative by calling on His name. Although this notion of calling can seem unusual, it is not a new practice. Lamentations 3 depicts this audible call as our spiritual breathing. My dependence on the Lord stems from this process of breathing his name.
Rich to All who Call
It is important to realize that calling on the name of the Lord serves a purpose. This real, living person of Jesus will continually save us if we learn to partake of Him by calling. According to Romans 10:12, He is “rich to all who call upon Him.” Whatever situations I experience in my daily life can be used as opportunities to turn to the Lord by calling on His name and enjoying His riches.
How to Call on Him
To effectively contact the Lord by calling on Him, our hearts must be in the right position. Often times, I will come to the Lord seeking answers to tough questions or detailed resolutions to big decisions. However, these ulterior motives detach us from the person of Jesus. In order to have a genuine calling, we should approach the Lord with a pure heart. This type of purity requires a singular focus consisting only of Him. This experience of calling can also be enhanced when we open our mouths. Audibly confessing that Jesus is Lord is more powerful than we may realize and can remind us of the accessibility we have to this person inside of us.
Joining together with other believers for the purpose of calling on the Lord can also be beneficial. When I am with others, I can certainly feel the Lord’s presence through this collective calling. It is vital to remember that we have access to the Lord at all times and calling on his name is simple yet satisfying. Rather than an established ritual or an occasional experience, this calling was intended to be daily and even momently.
Our Life Supply
While we confront a wide range of situations in our day-to-day lives, the reassurance that we can turn to the Lord by calling on His name at any point can become a type of life supply. Jesus went through a process so that He would be made available to us as the life-giving Spirit. Now, our only job is to continuously receive all that He is by calling on His name.
By: M. Cannizzo
- A Normal Christian Life - November 11, 2016
- Where do we find our identity? - October 13, 2016
- God’s Purpose Throughout the Ages - September 15, 2016
“Joining together with other believers for the purpose of calling on the Lord can also be beneficial.” I agree. Recently I have spent a little time on 2 Tim 2:22, “pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
Thousands of AMEN!