Advent Devotion

Greetings:

 

Hope to see everyone in church on this glorious day.  Parents please have all your children at the church by 9:00 A.M. for music practice back in the music room.  The children's part of worship is going to be great.  Keep safe and please be careful with all of the slick spots.  Blessings to each one of you.

 

Pastor Ken

 

December 19, 2009

God Has Many Names

Excerpt from Luke 13:31-35

Reflection by Martin B. Copenhaver

What's your favorite name for God? There are so many choices. The Bible contains dozens of names for God.

Some names remind us that God is powerful and mysterious: I Am, Alpha and Omega, Sun of Righteousness, Bright Morning Star, Ancient of Days, Holy One.

Other names seem to bring God to our side in an intimate way: Abba (which means, "Papa," or, "Daddy"), Comforter, Counselor, Love. In this Advent season, we particularly call upon God in Christ with the name Emmanuel, which means "God with us."

Many of the names for God in the Bible are masculine, but others, like the name in our reading today ("Brooding Hen") are feminine, and still others are gender-neutral.

So why do we have so many names for God? Quite simply, each name says something about God, but not all that can be said. No one name is sufficient. So we draw on a rich treasure-store of many names. As one of our hymns charges us, "Bring many names, beautiful and good."

So what is your favorite name for God? May I suggest that you use that name now to call upon God in prayer?

Prayer

I know you by many names, but the name that seems to draw me closest to you is _______. Thank you for giving me a name with which to address you because that means that you long to be in relationship with me. Amen.