THE NAME OF THE LORD IN YOUR HOME
Part 5

"Let it even be established, that thy name may be magnified forever"

(1 Chronicles 17:23).

PRAISE the name of the Lord

Sometimes we may not feel like praising the Lord. However, God's name is worthy to be praised whether we feel like it or not. His name waits to be praised. Therefore, there are times when we have to confess out loud like the prophet, "I WILL praise you." Isaiah 25:1 says, "I WILL praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth." Read also Psalm 54:6.

How frequently should we praise the name of the Lord? The psalmist says, "From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised" (Psalm 113:3). And "I will praise thy name forever and ever" (Psalm 44:8 and 145:2). That doesn't give us any loophole, does it?

Who should praise the Lord? Psalm 148:1-13 tells us that all creation praises the name of the Lord. But also "Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven." It's not just the adults who should be exuberant in praising the name of the Lord, but the teens, and children, too. Our whole household should ring with the praises of the Lord. This distinguishes us from a secular household!

Read also 1 Chronicles 29:13; Psalm 48:10; 74:21; 113:1; 135:1; 138:2; 148:1-5 and Joel 2:26.

PRAY in the name of the Lord

This is such a wonderful point. How I love to pray in the name of Jesus. I have no access of my own into the throne room of God. I only stand in His presence because of the name of Jesus and His precious blood. Because of the power of His name I can intercede for our family, the needs of other people, and the nations of the world.

John 14:13-14 says, "Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it." Read also John 16:16 and 16:23-24.

PROCLAIM the name of the Lord

Moses exclaimed in Deuteronomy 32:3, "I will proclaim the name of the Lord."

PREACH in the name of the Lord

It is our privilege and duty to preach the gospel whenever we can to whoever we can. And of course, we don't do it our name, but in the authority of the name of the Lord. Jesus Himself said in Luke 24:27, "Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."

RECEIVE CHILDREN in the name of the Lord

Do you remember the time when the disciples asked Jesus who would be the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven? Jesus responded by bringing a little child into their midst and said to them, "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me" (Matthew 18:1-6). Read also Mark 9:36-37 and Luke 9:48.

Our attitude to embracing children reveals our attitude to Him. We are to receive each new baby as though we were receiving Jesus Himself. We are to receive them in His name.

Our receiving of children should not be the attitude, "Well, I guess we'll survive somehow if God gives us another baby." The Greek word is dechomai and actually means, "to accept a gift deliberately and readily, to welcome, to receive favorably and kindly, to embrace, make one's own, not to reject."

The word dechomai is used 55 times in the New Testament. One of the occasions is about receiving Christ into the heavens after His time on earth (Acts 3:21). We could hardly imagine the joy and fanfare with which He was welcomed back into His heavenly home. This is the same way God wants us to receive children in His name.

REJOICE in the name of the Lord

Psalm 89:16 exhorts us to rejoice in the name of the Lord all the day!

 

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

 

PRAYER:

"Dear Father, I pray that you will anoint us to be a praising family. Help me to be disciplined to set apart family times each day to praise and honor the name of the Lord TOGETHER. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

The name of the Lord is lifted HIGH in our home.