Weekly Devotional 3-11-19 Praying in Jesus’ Name
Every Christian at one time or another has ended his or her prayer with these words, “in Jesus’ name”. Some invoke His name at the end of every prayer, or at least often. As we utter these words most of us probably give little thought to what praying in Jesus’ name means. Certainly uttering these words should not just be a convenient conclusion to the prayer we just prayed. When we close our prayer with these words, should we not consciously consider that it is only through Him that we have a right to approach God? Come to think of it, isn’t this how we should enter into prayer? Also, when we enter into prayer or close our prayer and invoke Jesus’ name do we consciously consider that our prayers should be fashioned by how Jesus Himself would pray the prayer that we are praying? Jesus would not pray selfishly, nor should we. Jesus would pray in accordance with the Father’s will, as we should. To pray in any other way would not be respectful to Him nor would it be respectful to the price He paid to make it possible for us to come to God in Prayer.
When we pray in private or in a public setting, we should always be conscious of this truth: “1For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. 5Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: ‘Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. 6In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure.’ 7Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come– In the volume of the book it is written of Me– To do Your will, O God.’ 8Previously saying, ‘Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them’ (which are offered according to the law), 9then He said, ‘Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.’ He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:1-14).
When we pray, we should always be mindful that nothing could satisfy the holiness of God apart from Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf. That God loved us so much that He gave His only begotten Son so that we could enter into a relationship with Him. Jesus willfully was obedient to His Father’s will and shed His blood for that same purpose.
Therefore, because of the great love by which they loved us, and because of their mutual sacrifice, shouldn’t we be mindful of what we are saying when we say “In Jesus name” at the end of our prayers?
stevelampman@comcast.net stevelampman.com
Transforming Power; The Work of God on Behalf of Man
Scripture usage is from the NKJB