The Name of God: Part 1 - 'Worship His Holy Name'

Exodus 3:1-15 
3 One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. 3 “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.”
4 When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
“Here I am!” Moses replied.
5 “Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. 6 I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.
7 Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live. 9 Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. 10 Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.”
11 But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?”
12 God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.”
13 But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?”
14 God replied to Moses, “I am who I am. Say this to the people of Israel: I am has sent me to you.” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.
This is my eternal name,
    my name to remember for all generations.

John 8:49-58 
49 “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honour my Father and you dishonour me. 50 I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”
52 At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”
54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55 Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”
57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”
58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 
 
John 6:35 
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
 
John 8:12 
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
 
John 10:9
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.
 
John 10:11 
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
 
John 11:25 
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die

John 14:6 
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
 
John 15:1 
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
 

Prayer and Reflection:
Merciful God, forgive us when we forget who you are – that you are the great “I Am” who created all things, who gave us life, and who saves us from ourselves. Lord, we worship your holy name and we say “Yes” to your call on our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.


Questions to Consider

1. Do you know if there is a meaning behind your own name? What is it?
2. How well do you think it fits you – anything to learn there?
3. When you describe yourself, perhaps to someone new to you, how do you do it?
4. What part does your faith play in the way you think of yourself?
5. What part does your faith play in the way you present to other people?
6. Do you readily make clear that you are a follower of Jesus?
7. What part has God played in your life (the big stuff) and are you able to talk to people, about God?
8. When was the last time you offered to pray for someone, outside of church?
9. What would you say is the greatest call on your life from God – aside from the primary call to follow Jesus?