Monday Morning Devotion-August 10. 2020
The Name
There is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12
The Lovely Susette and I have recently undertaken the task of understanding how the Star Wars movies were put together and what has contributed to their immense popularity. We are in the process of watching the nine Episodes, released periodically over the past 43 years (gosh has it been that long) that have grossed over $10 billion dollars of box office receipts.
So, hoping to get my one screenplay produced I'm trying to figure out what is the magic in those movies? Is it something I could capture and unleash to get my movie made? Well, one thing to consider when looking at the overall Star Wars picture is that the budget for these nine movies totaled around $1.633 billion. Okay so that part leaves me out.
Another thing is a cast of thousands was required to make these movies if you consider all the actors required to play the main roles as well as those playing storm troopers, droids, wookies, etc. Don't think I would need that many actors and actresses.
Another unusual thing about the Star Wars Saga is that the first movie starts in the middle timewise of the nine. There are three trilogies. The original trilogy started in 1977 and these three movies, each produced three years apart, are in the middle of the entire saga. They are followed by the Prequel Trilogy that takes the audience back before the original episodes occurred. These three movies were shown between 1999 & 2005. Then comes the Sequel Trilogy (2015-2019). And as the name Sequel indicates they take up and carry forward where the Original Trilogy left off back in 1983.
OK, so now that I have you somewhat confused here's the point of all this. In addition to keeping up with where each of these movies fits in the overall story added difficulty comes from trying to keep the characters straight, especially who are the good guys and who are the bad guys. And even beyond that who are the bad guys that were good guys before.
Part of that problem is learning all the names. There are a lot of them. While it is easy to remember Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, who essentially portray good vs. evil. Trying to remember who some of the others are that creep into the picture from time to time is a challenge. There's Kylo Ren, Poe Dameron, BB-8, Finn and on and on.
What's in a name? Does each name have something to do with a person's character or personality or purpose? What about your name or some of the people you know? Many have a family name passed down through the years. Some are named after famous people. Still others got their name just because their parents like it.
There are names of people we turn to when the going gets tough. Our friends have names that mostly have nothing to do with why they are our friends. In other words there are a multitude of reasons leading to why names are chosen.
But, for us there is one name that stands above all others. The name that brings us peace and comfort. The name we know we can call on in good times or bad ones. That name°Jesus!
As Charles Stanley points out: "There is power in the name of Jesus°By His name, people were saved (Acts 2:37-40); The lame walked (Acts 3:6-7); the disciples preached with boldness, the sick were healed, and wonders were performed to His glory (Acts 4-29-31)."
Stanley points out that even the council of Jewish leaders recognized the power of His name and commanded the disciples not to speak the name of Jesus.
Throughout the Bible there are different names that have been used for God. These have been translated in various ways to show the multifaceted features of an omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent God who is the master and creator of the universe. His love, His holiness, His Grace and His Mercy all are captured in the name God. But his works are so complex that sometimes a name that describes a particular facet of these are addressed in scripture under a special name.
In the book "Blessing Your Spirit" the writers Sylvia Gunter and Arthur Burk have shed light on some of the names in the Bible that have been used to describe God's works or his being. For example, in Genesis 22:13-14 when God provided a ram, caught in a bush, for Abraham to use as a sacrifice he used the name Jehovah-Jireh for God to show his power. This means "The Lord Will Provide." That was a foreshadowing that centuries later on that same mountain Jesus, The Lamb of God, died fulfilling the name of Jehovah-Jireh.
Jehovah-Rophe blesses you in staying healthy through getting and staying clean. Jehovah-Nissi will be at war against your enemies. Jehovah-Shalom blesses you with peace in the middle of turmoil. Jehovah-Rohe, as your shepherd blesses you with the same sense of security given to the sheep by their shepherd. Jehovah-Tsidkenu blesses each day of your life with having value and not being wasted. Jehovah-Shammah blesses you with knowing deeply that you were made for your Father.
And then there is the name Yahweh. He is the God who has existed before the beginning of time, before anything we can conceive. This is a name that was considered to be so Holy that it was not to be said out loud for fear of what the consequences might be.
Granted my translation of each of those names for God might not have been exactly spot-on, but I think it's sufficient to point out what a mighty God we serve. Instead of trying
to keep up with a bunch of names to understand the story like you must do to understand the Star Wars saga, our Heavenly Father has made it easy for us.
There is only one name we need to remember. Jesus! Remember and call on that name
and "The Force will be with you" in everything you do.
Prayer: Thank you Jesus for always being there for us! Amen!