Day 7: His Name Is Jesus
Day 7: His Name Is Jesus
Hebrews 4:14-16
I think the first line of this song may be my favorite. “The King is in the room.” Lately, it has become increasingly clear to me how this statement is always true. God is with us. Last Christmas, I thought a lot about the name Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” This is a beautiful truth to remember: how He came and met us right where we were at. He breathed air and walked our ground. But the more I processed this name Emmanuel, the bigger it became to me. Yes, God came physically near to us 2,000 years ago. But He came near in every other way as well. He is “God with us” in all things. Do you feel hated? He knows what that feels like. Have you been betrayed? Jesus says, “I am right here with you.” Are you lonely, sorrowful, persecuted, in pain? Jesus knows exactly what you’re going through. He is the God who understands. He understands your need and knows how to meet it. He is Emmanuel.
Not only does the nearness of Jesus bring us comfort because He is able to “empathize with our weaknesses” (Heb. 4:14), but it also brings boldness. Yes, this King sits enthroned on high, but Hebrews 4 tells us that this throne is marked by grace, and that we may approach it with boldness! “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Heb. 4:15-16). This passage draws our heart into the tensions that the King of all the universe is both more powerful than we could ever imagine, and yet at the same time, more intimately sympathetic than we could ever dream. Who is this King? His name is Jesus.
Some things to consider today to help cultivate an awareness of the presence of King Jesus:
1. What are some areas in your life where you feel “nobody understands this”? Invite Jesus to come be with you in that intimate place. Remember you are not alone. You never were. You never will be.
2. Remember that Jesus is not only empathetic towards us but He is also powerful in us and through us. Don’t let your circumstances diminish your faith in the enormous strength of our God. Pray and invite Him to move powerfully today.
3. When you pray and when you worship, enter into God’s presence with boldness!
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Phil Wickham is...
Since his self-titled debut in 2006, Phil Wickham has emerged as a leader in the modern worship movement, penning countless songs sung in churches around the world. His RIAA Gold®-certified single, “This Is Amazing Grace,” was his first career No. 1, holding the top spot for 13 consecutive weeks and named Billboard’s No. 1 “Christian Airplay Song of the Year” in 2014 and BMI’s “Christian Song of the Year” in 2015. His anthemic “Living Hope,” also RIAA Gold-certified, earned him a GMA Dove Award for “Worship Recorded Song of the Year” in 2019.
His latest project, Hymn of Heaven (June 25, 2021, Fair Trade Services), was written during a year when the family of God couldn’t physically gather in houses of worship around the world. “Hymn of Heaven is full of praise and thankfulness, just lifting up the name of Jesus and speaking what we really know the reality is even though we don’t see it,” he says. “All I want to do is facilitate moments where people can encounter the presence of God.” The album’s first single, “Battle Belongs,” had already topped five different radio charts for multiple weeks.
Wickham’s music has received hundreds of millions of streams across his catalog and platforms, with his discography including eight full-length projects, multiple Christmas releases, and a series of popular Singalong records that capture Wickham’s songs doing what they were always meant to do—giving people language to sing to God. To find out more, visit PhilWickham.com
