Take the Name of Jesus With You

Daily Reading: Numbers 6

Scripture Focus: The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. (Numbers 6.24-26)

Devotional Thought: Have you ever wondered how to pronounce a blessing on someone? In Numbers 6, Moses was given instructions as to how Aaron and his sons (the priests) were to bless the people of Israel.

The Lord bless you... The word for bless actually means to kneel down and adore. It is used for our worship of God. That obviously doesn't work when we speak of God blessing us. But, the picture I get from it is God stooping down to show us his love - much like a grandparent would do for a small grandchild. God came down in Jesus to show us his love!

God has other blessings for us, too: standing guard over us, shining the light of his love and favor before us, coming to us when we are unworthy, granting peace in our turmoil!

We are the priests now, and we have been given the awesome privilege of blessing one another in the name of the Lord. When we do so, we "put [his] name upon the people of Israel, and [so he] will bless them" (v. 27).

Today, I bless you in the name of the Lord! In the words of that old hymn, take the name of Jesus with you:

Take the name of Jesus with you, Child of sorrow and of woe;

It will joy and comfort give you, Take it then where’er you go.

Precious name! Oh, how sweet! Hope of earth and joy of heav’n;

Precious name! Oh, how sweet! Hope of earth and joy of heav’n!

Prayer: Lord, bless my family and friends today. Come down and take their face in your tender hands, showing them love and giving them peace. Amen.

Psalm of the Day: 5 Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. 6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? 7 The LORD is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. 8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. (Psalms 118:5-9)