‘Keep Through Your Name’

’Keep Through Your Name’

And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee.  Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

John 17:11

Christ is ever concerned with the welfare of His people.  He has done, is doing, and shall yet do all that is necessary to ensure our eternal good.  To that ultimate goal, so far as we are concerned, Christ operates in concert with His Father and with the Holy Spirit.  These Three Members of the Holy Trinity work to save and to keep all of the redeemed under all circumstances and conditions for all time and for all eternity.  There is no disunity in Their purpose; no inability of Their power; and no possibility of Their failure.  Because Christ understood this, He could pray, ‘keep through Your Name those whom thou hast given me.’  Why is it that He prays, ‘keep through Your Name…?’  The Name of God reflects the Character of God .  If God keeps us ‘through His Name,’ He is keeping us by virtue of the Character which His Name reveals.  He keeps us as Jehovah-Jireh – ‘The Lord will provide.’  He keeps us as Jehovah – Nissi, ‘The Lord my banner.’  He keeps us as Jehovah – Shalom, ‘The Lord send peace.’  He keeps us as Jehovah – Shammah, ‘The Lord is there.’  He keeps us as Jehovah – Tsidkenu – ‘The Lord our righteousness.’  These are a few of many, each of them revealing how the Lord keeps His people by the Character which His Name reveals.  ‘A Mighty Fortress is our God; a Bulwark never failing.’  This is our Hope and Stay in all the challenges of life.

Our most Powerful, Preserving God,
we rejoice that You enclose us in Your sheepfold.
We praise You that by the power of Your Holy Character,
You preserve us in all our ways.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning