Following the Star 
Pause
The unique message of the Gospel is that God wanted to
walk with us, eat with us, hurt with us, weep with us, and save us.
God came for us in human form and knows exactly what kind of forgiving, freeing, healing love we need.
Listen
Let all of these praise the Lord’s name because only God’s name is high over all. Only God’s majesty is over earth and heaven. God raised the strength of his people, the praise of all his faithful ones— that’s the Israelites, the people who are close to him.
Praise the Lord!
Psalm 148:13-14
Think
Have you ever thought about the power of a name? At school you may hear someone’s name spoken with awe and respect before you ever meet that person. Other times you hear a person’s name derided and mocked on the bus or hallway. But the psalmist says that “only God’s name is high over all.” Sometimes the name of a person we love or hate can carry a lot of weight: someone we secretly have a crush on, someone who rejected us, or someone we used to be close to. When you hear a name that makes you cringe, or get butterflies, or feel anxious or jealous, you might pause to remember: only one name stands above them all. One name is truly worthy of awe. Human relationships can be fraught and confusing. But the name of God will never leave us nor forsake us.
Cari Pattison
Question to ponder:
Do you know what your name means? And why you were given that name?
Pray
Most loving God, show me the meaning and truth in my own name.
Help me to live in such a way that my name reflects your light.
When I get caught up in all the other names and reputations, bring me back to your name:
the one I can call on at any time, any place, for any reason.
Thank you, Jesus.
Amen.
Go
Today, pay attention to the little signs of Christ’s saving work in your life.
