Mother’s Day

Dear Friends,

You might be in the middle of thinking up a Mother’s Day gift for your mom like we are. This year marks the fourth year my mom has been in Heaven. But my mom-in-law is still very much a part of our lives. She is not always the easiest to buy for with her many allergies – no jewelry, no indoor plants or flowers. She doesn’t really like décor items or china, and clothing never seems to fit. What can we give that will portray our deep appreciation for her?

God doesn’t need anything either and certainly nothing from us. That’s what his name means – Yahweh, the self-existent One. This is the name God used to describe himself when He told Moses to go and free His people from the Egyptians:

Exodus 3:13-14 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

Read what The Bible Reader’s Companion says about these verses.

God’s name (3:13–15). The “what” (Heb. mah) raises the issue of God’s nature rather than a title. God answers by calling Himself YHWH, usually rendered Yahweh or, mistakenly, Jehovah. The name is rooted in the Hebrew verb “to be,” and may be understood as “He Who Is,” or “The One Who Is Always Present.” God’s O.T. people had heard the name, but had not experienced its meaning. In the series of terrible judgments about to fall on Egypt, and in the miraculous release of the Israelites, God’s people were about to experience Him as One who is present, and present in power! We too are to consider Him present with us, and count on Him to exercise His power for us. In English versions God’s special name is found wherever LORD is found. [1]

Jesus also refers to Himself as Yahweh as recorded in John’s Gospel:

John 6:35 – I am the bread of life.
John 8:12 – I am the light of the world.
John 10:9 – I am the gate.
John 10:11 – I am the good shepherd.
John 11:25 – I am the resurrection and the life.
John 14:6 – I am the way, the truth, and the life.
John 15:1 – I am the true vine.

God has and is everything. In fact I have heard it said that God is the truest thing about us. So how can we portray our deep appreciation for Him. Is there something we can give or do that would prove our devotion to Him.

I’m hoping many ways are coming to your mind.
Being generous to orphans and widows.
Treating all people with respect and compassion.
Being honest.
Knowing God’s Word.
Talking with God often.
Working diligently.
Telling others about the LORD.

Just remember that none of these ways help us earn God’s love or forgiveness, they are only expressions of our indebtedness to Him.

There is another one which I want to highlight especially this week and that is UNITY. This was Jesus’ prayer just before he died and was raised again:

John 17:20-23 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.

A gift we can give back to the LORD is to be unified and I don’t just mean within our individual churches or denominations. What if the whole church which resides in Abbotsford (or in whichever city you are from) would gather in unity to proclaim our dependence on the Lord, to praise Him for who He is, to reaffirm that our hope is in Him alone? Would the LORD be pleased? Would the LORD receive our gift? YAH!! Would the rest of Abbotsford be more convinced that Jesus is who he says he is? That’s what God promises.

Blessings from Bev