WHAT’S IN A NAME?                                                  Psalm 8:1-9

O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens! (vv1,9)

Shakespeare coined the phrase, “What’s in a name? everything. If we mention John Wesley, Martin Luther, Wilson Churchill, we know at once what to expect. Their names stand for something and communicate a clear message. How supremely is this so when we talk about Jesus!

The Beloved in the Song of songs says her Lover’s name was like a perfume poured out. Even the costliest perfume is scentless when sealed up. The late Lindsay Glegg, a British preacher, told of a department store in London where on hot summer days entered with a fine invisible jet of perfume. Many used to wonder at the pleasant odour that permeated the store. There comes to mind the words of a beautiful hymn that used to be sung a long time ago.

My Lord has garments so wonderful fine, And myrrh their texture fills; Its fragrance reaches to this heart of mine, With joy my being thrills. Out of the ivory palaces, into a world of woe, Only His great eternal love, Made my Saviour go.

The apostle Paul wrote of the aroma of Christ’ (2 Corinthians 2:15) Are we permeated by that invisible aroma of heaven that He brought to this stifling valley of tears? And are we letting that fragrance linger on those we rub shoulders with? Truly fragrance is the name of our wonderful Saviour, Jesus.

PRAYER LINE: Lord Jesus, the more I think about what You mean to me the more my heart is turned to joy. For all Your goodness and worth, and the life You bring to my soul. I offer You my thanks, my praise and my life. Amen. (EDWJ)

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A name stands for something and communicates a clear message.