Name Above All Names

We were watching a move the other night, and they said it.  The two words I love to hear – yet, I despise hearing when used in such a profane manner.  What was merely an expletive to an actor is the Name above all Names to me:  the name of my Lord, Jesus Christ.

I am sure I have such a strong reaction because of His Spirit who dwells within me.  That Spirit Who is One with the Father and Son, who knows and searches both the heart of God and man.  It is that same Spirit who penned words through chosen vessels, giving revelatory descriptions in Scripture of the true identity of the Son of God.  As I meditated on these words this morning, I was again reminded that we live in a fallen world…a world where man is blind until the Spirit of God regenerates the darkened heart.  The unregenerate heart is oblivious; there is no realization that they have vainly and carelessly uttered the most revered Name in the universe:

Jesus Christ.  “...He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation.  For BY HIM all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things have been created by Him and for Him.  And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.  He is also the head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything.  For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him.”  Col. 1:13-18

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being BY HIM, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.  And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  John 1:1-3; 14

“Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  Phil. 2: 9-11

Lord Jesus Christ – we worship and revere Your Name.  

Family

As of September 10, 2009, I had one grandchild – Barrett Owen Chambers – the little love of my life.  On Saturday, September 11, 2009, - the day I married Gary -  I inherited nine more.  I, of course, knew these sweet souls and they knew me prior to our marriage, but after we were joined in marriage I was no longer Ms. Vicki.  I became Grammy, and each of those little hearts embraced and welcomed me in a way I never expected.  Of course there is no such title as “step-grandchildren” or “step-grandmother,” but even if there had been I think we would have rejected it, just as all other “step-titles” seem to have been rejected in our combined families.  Almost immediately each of them endeared themselves to my heart.  I am their “Grammy” and no one had better suggest otherwise! 

There are treasures within these little hearts.  I am so amazed that among ten grandchildren, there are no two even remotely alike.  Well, yes Mya is a princess and little Reyma aspires to be one – but they are princesses from different “tribes,” let us say.   Dean and Nolan kick their shoes off at the mere suggestion of a hip-hop song while flinging themselves to the ground, conquering moves that would hospitalize most of us; but their moves are personal, creative, and distinguishable.  Oh yes, Dean is clearly Dean.  Nolan is most decidedly Nolan.  Barrett is consumed with the “workings” of  choo-choo trains  while Jasmine’s passion is the dance.  Whether we’re addressing appearance, tastes, personalities, gifting, talents, viewpoints, likes or dislikes,  etc., it is amazing to me how very unique each grandchild is as a divine creation.

I thought of these little lives this morning as I was thinking about our friends and family in the Body of Christ.  Honestly, I could sit and listen to Alan’s passionate words about the love of God for hours.  I have watched Joe’s gentle heart and tender spirit, and have actually witnessed his Christlike transformation over the many years I have known him.  Gary’s intensity of heart for an intimate relationship with the Lord and his passion for the Body of Christ inspires me daily.  Mark’s tenacious action on behalf of the poor and needy truly humbles me.  Mike­­­­­­­­ goes through life feeling the pain of others as if his heart somehow miraculously resides and survives outside his body.  Sarah has lovingly taken orphans under her wing while Judy spends hours weekly interceding for others whose burdens she mercifully carries before the throne of grace.  Whether I’m contemplating the uniqueness of each grandchild or observing the distinctiveness of those who individually make up the Body of Christ, I am inspired by our Creator.  Everything  was spoken into being through the Living Word – our Lord Jesus Christ (Col. 1:16-17).  There is no end to the wonder I feel when I meditate on His creation, look at all He is, and declare with the Psalmist, “we are fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14)  That realization is surpassed only by the revelation that same Creator/Lord lives within each member of His Body.  It is a reflection of His life and the fruit of His Spirit that is evident through each of these lives; through them I more clearly see Christ.

Surrender

It would seem to me that worry is an indication of unsurrendered areas of my life.  His desire is for every area of my heart and life so His life within - and communion with Him - will remain unhindered.

"God has created the sun, the moon, the stars, the flowers, the trees, and the grass.  Are they not all absolutely surrendered to God?  Do they not allow God to work in them just what He pleases?  When God clothes the lily with its beauty, is it not yielded up, surrendered, given over to God as He works in it its beauty?" - Andrew Murray