Study Notes
The Best NAME in the World
Malachi 3:13-18
December 5, 2010
Like a Tree
Week 64
Learning by heart (tip): The other day I visited with a young mother and wife who told me she is memorizing a key statement about Christ from each book of the Bible. Then I visited with a high school senior who has memorized Psalm 23. Friends, people just like you and me are taking time to learn Scripture by heart. Psalm 46:10 tells us to “Be still, and know that I am God.” How does one really come to know that God is God? We will come to know that God is God when we take time to learn God’s Word.
Finding the gospel (hint): What is God’s greatest name?
- Read Matthew 1:18-25. Take special note of verses 23 and 25. Why might the name of God given here be God’s greatest name?
- Consider Paul’s teaching in Philippians 2:5-11. What name did God give Jesus? Why is this good news?
Living witnesses (today): Our Scripture verse for this week tells us that God particularly notices those that think on his name. And Romans 12:2 teaches that we grow spiritually only by the “renewing of your minds.” How is your thought life? To bring your thought life under control, begin today to think on God’s greatest name – Jesus Christ – more and more. When you do, God’s Spirit will renew your thought life.
Praying scripture (now): “Oh Lord, how I love you! I confess that my thought life is not as pure and lovely and gracious as it could be. Please help me to think more frequently of your name and character. Fill my mind with wholesome and noble thoughts. Raise my downcast spirit and lift my mind to things that are above, where Christ is seated at your right hand. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”