I pray you’ll join us and learn new and exciting things too from His Word.
This Week We're Looking at Name
Do you remember Paul Harvey? If you are any younger than me, you probably don’t. He was on the radio when I was a kid, and he told stories. He had an amazing way of reeling me into his stories. Harvey was well known for one unique thing about his storytelling. The entire time that he told his story, he never once mentioned the name of the person the story was about.
Until the last line of his story, it could have been about anyone, but when he dropped the name at the end, everything suddenly fell into focus. That obscure sounding story wasn’t about someone you had never heard of, but instead, it was about a clearly recognizable person such as Abraham Lincoln, Dean Martin, or some other notable person. Once the name was added, the story changed.
God desires for His name to be known through all the earth. (Exodus 9:16) He doesn’t need my help to make His name great, but He does desire for me to be a part of His plan in making it great! Yet, I often tell my stories about God hoping that the listener will just somehow understand that it is God Who has made such a difference in my life. I don’t boldly drop that name upfront, or sometimes at all. I live a bumper sticker method of evangelism. Sure if you are close to me long enough you’ll see Jesus, but will the average driver on the road of life? Not a chance.
Instead of living life hoping that people will hang on to the last second of the story to find out why knowing Jesus is life-changing, here are three things every Christian should be doing to increase God’s name.
Choose today whose name will be known through your life!
Danell posts encouraging articles and resources to help you with your walk with Christ, as well as to lead your kids to a deeper understanding of God, over at her website Faith Plus Family. Be sure to check out her Kid’s Christmas Discipleship Bundle, 31 Days in 1 Samuel Prayer Guide, and Christian Mom’s Planner Inserts.
Danell Steffen is a wife and mom to three precious girls, including a set of twins. They love to hike as a family and play lots of games.
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What does Name mean to you?
20 Comments
11/10/2020 09:08:35 am
I used to talk differently to Christian and non-Christian friends and loved ones, thinking that the non-Christians ones might not understand. Then I realized that instead I need to talk about how God moved and provided in my everyday life *especially* to them so they could see His hand at work.
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11/11/2020 08:46:08 am
That is great advice, Barbara! They both do need to see God working in our daily lives—believers and unbelievers alike. Believers can be encouraged through our testimony, and unbelievers can be brought to a saving knowledge of or Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
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11/10/2020 09:25:26 am
Danell, so many good points here, and I am learning to gulp and move on through the awkward pause when "the Name" enters a conversation!
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11/11/2020 08:48:01 am
Didn't she just make a bunch of amazing points?!? I just love her point of view and how she leads us right back to God and His Word throughout her post! Thank you Danell!
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11/10/2020 10:54:36 am
I love this idea of evangelism by telling simple stories of what God is doing in our life. He is truly taking care of us in this crazy, up-side down year. The word evangelism sounds heavy. The idea of sharing what God is doing in our family feels easy, fun, and light.
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11/11/2020 08:52:05 am
Jed, maybe this was what Jesus was talking about in Matthew 11:29 when He said, "Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Evangelism shouldn't be difficult for us. It should be a natural thing that flows from our love for God.
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I love the thought that at salvation I linked my name with Jesus', I need to talk about my relationship from that perspective. It can be so hard to have a conversation, but why should it? I don't have any trouble talking about my family to other people. I should not have trouble talking about Jesus to other people!
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11/11/2020 08:53:41 am
I love this, Donna! —> "I don't have any trouble talking about my family to other people. I should not have trouble talking about Jesus to other people!" SO TRUE!
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11/10/2020 03:58:36 pm
I remember Paul Harvey very vividly but of course I'm older than most dirt!!!!
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11/11/2020 08:54:48 am
Susan, you made me LOL! I'm right there in the same boat with you—older than dirt.
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Thank you for this great message Danell. I love the reminder to honor God in our words and actions. When I think about name, I often think about what it means to be a Christian and take His name on me. That says a lot about how I desire to be. Thank you for hosting Patsy!
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11/11/2020 08:57:09 am
Thank you, Marielle, for linking up! I love the thought of taking His name and being linked to Him in relationship like that—CHRISTian. :)
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11/11/2020 12:12:37 pm
"He doesn’t need my help to make His name great, but He does desire for me to be a part of His plan in making it great!" This is so true. God's name is already great. He just wants us to show the world how great it is.
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11/11/2020 02:08:04 pm
Angela, I think that's my favorite truth quote from Danell's post. :) He'd love for us to be a part of making His name great, but with or without us... His name WILL be made great! His name IS great! Even the rocks will cry out, right? Thankful today, that we are able to be a part of His plan! Humbled and very, very thankful!
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11/11/2020 02:09:01 pm
Yes! He knows our name. That is such a beautiful, and humbling thought!
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11/11/2020 03:01:08 pm
To know Him. To make Him known. <— Lauren, it's my life goal! :)
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11/13/2020 03:42:40 pm
This reminds me of a time when my husband had been talking about God to a young man who worked for us. Finally, one day my husband asked, would you like to know how to have a relationship with God? The young man said, "yes"! I've been waiting for you to ask me! Maybe there are others to whom we have said even less and they, too, are wanting to hear more!
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1/11/2024 09:15:21 am
What a powerful and impactful story, Donna!! It's a beautiful reminder that sometimes, individuals are eagerly waiting for an invitation to know more about God and have a relationship with Him. Your husband's willingness to ask that important question opened a door for someone who had been waiting for the opportunity.
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