Jesus: Forerunner

-Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

Where Jesus has entered in for us [in advance], a Forerunner having become a High Priest forever after the order (with the rank) of Melchizedek. -Hebrews 6:20 AMP

When wagon trains crossed the country heading into the unknown territory of the American West, they hired scouts (forerunners) to go before the travelers to find out what was ahead and report back their findings. Pioneers needed to know where the trail would take them, if there were dangers ahead that they needed to prepare for, if there was fresh water nearby, and if there was a good place where they could make camp for the night. Most important of all, the job of the scout was to make sure the travelers took the best path possible, the path that would bring them safely to their final destination.

As Forerunner, Jesus is the one who has gone before us and blazed the trail to the Father's house. He has entered the sanctuary of heaven, into the very presence of God, and has reported back to us with all the information we need to arrive safely at our final destination. Jesus, our heavenly scout with perfect knowledge of what is ahead, gives us the basis to press on in our journey of faith with everlasting hope in our hearts.

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©2011, 2020 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley, used with permission. All rights reserved.

Jesus: Firstborn from the Dead

-Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. -Revelation 1:5 NKJV

When something is offered that you greatly desire, you want to be the first in line to get it. Recently, and electronic company came out with a new game system. When the time of its public release was announced, people stood in line for hours in order to be one of the first ones to own the system.

However, if there is something you are fearful about attempting, you are not as anxious to be the first one to do it. Two men were hiking to the mountains when the trail they were on led to the edge of a high cliff. In front of them stood a rickety, old wooden bridge suspended across a raging river hundreds of feet below. Without crossing the bridge, the two men could not continue their journey. They both agreed to continue, but neither wanted to test the bridge's safety by crossing first.

A group of Christians may all talk about the wonders of heaven, but most likely no one wants to go first. Jesus knows the fears that each of us has about death. As the Firstborn from the Dead, Jesus assures us that He not only tasted death for each of us, but He is also the first to rise from the dead, never to die again. Through our death, we will simply follow Him into our resurrection, never to die again. Jesus has gone first, and He is telling us that everything will be okay. 
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©2011. 2020 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. All rights reserved.

Jesus: I Am

-Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

Jesus replied, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, before Abraham was born, I AM. -John 8:58 AMP

Jesus, the eternal I Am, is the I Am of everything you need, of all you desire, and of all you long to be. He is your wisdom, your authority, and your confidence; He is your purpose, your hope, and your future; He is your mission, your motivation, and your message. When Jesus says, "I Am" he is saying that He is all-in-all. He is your provider and your provision, whatever your need may be.

In trouble, He is your peace. In lack, He is your sufficiency. In changing circumstances, He is your contentment. In sorrow, He is your comfort. In hardships, He is your hope. In difficulty, He is your joy. In weakness, He is your strength. In battle, He is your victory. In impossibilities, He is your miracle worker. 

He is your I Am when things are smooth and when things are rough, when there is sunshine and when there is rain. He is your I Am first thing in the morning, in the middle of the day, in the evening shadows, and when you go to bed at night. He is the I Am of every moment, of every ministry, of every appointment, and of every circumstance.
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©2011, 2020 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

Jesus: True

-Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called...True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. -Revelation 19:11 NKJV

It is important for us to not only hear meaningful things from other people but to also know that people truly mean the things they say. Scripture assures us that Jesus Christ is completely true and sincere. His words are not idealistic but realistic. He wants the words that He speaks to us to lead us to faith, not to make-believe.

Jesus is true in His words; everything He said can be counted upon. Jesus is true in His motives; everything He does is for a right and good reason. There is no falsehood or deceit in Him. Jesus would never trick someone, con them into believing a lie, playact, or speak about fiction as though it were fact. Jesus is 100% genuine.

Jesus is true in His promises, true in His character, and true in His attitudes. He is true in His faithfulness, true in His kindness, and true in His love. His healing is true, His compassion is true. He is also true in all His judgments. No matter which way you observe Him, everything about Him is true and bears witness to the truth.

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©2011, 2020 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley. All rights reserved.

Jesus: Faithful

-Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful...and righteousness He judges and makes war. -Revelation 19:11 NKJV

All of us desire meaningful relationships where people can trust one another. One of the hardest things to overcome in any relationship is unfaithfulness. Once trust has been broken in a marriage, it is devastating and may take years to rebuild the damage that has been done. There are other situations where trust can be broken. Someone may say, "I am having a hard time at work because I can't trust my boss." Someone else may say, "I trusted my friend with a deep secret, and I was shocked when he betrayed my confidence."

Trust is a word that is directly related to someone's character. We are not born with character. It is something that is developed in us. Trust is built in others not by those who are promise-breakers but by those who are promise-keepers. Trust creates security within a relationship.

Jesus carries the name Faithful because He is worthy of our complete trust and confidence. The Bible tells us that those who put their trust in the Lord will never be put to shame. He will never let us down. His words are true, and that makes Him believable; His actions are consistent, and that makes Him dependable; His power is limitless, and that makes Him reliable; His character is without flaw and that makes Him indescribable!
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©2011, 2020 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley. All rights reserved.

Jesus: The Door

-Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

Jesus said unto them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep." -John 10:7 NKJV

A popular TV game show would end its program by presenting the winning contestant with the option of opening one of three doors. Behind each door was a prize, but only one door held the grand prize. The drama of the show was to discover what was behind the door the contestant selected.

There are three doors that none of us should seek to open. Behind each one is something very undesirable. The first is the door of the world; behind this door everything is passing away. The second is the door of the flesh; behind this door everything leads to death. The third is the door of the enemy; behind this door everything brings darkness.

Jesus is the Door that will lead you to life and all that is good. The Bible tells us that every spiritual blessing we could ever desire or need is found in Jesus Christ—every treasure, every gift, every joy. When the door of God's mercy is opened to you, you can enter into God's abundance. It is here that you will always find the best. Through Jesus, nothing second-rate awaits you. Choosing Jesus as your Door will never leave you disappointed with the outcome. Opening His door means entering into life.
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©2011, 2020 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley, used with permission. All rights reserved.

Jesus: Deliverer

-Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion." -Romans 11:26 NKJV

As a kid during the 1940's, I loved going to our local movie theater for the Saturday afternoon matinees. Usually, there was a Western movie to watch, a bunch of cartoons, and a weekly serial. The hero in the serial always found himself in great danger at the end of the episode. By all appearances, it looked like he was a goner. I would go home thinking, "There is no way he is going to get out of that one!". It was always a relief to return the following Saturday and discover that my hero was rescued from the peril of the week before.

The apostle Paul could have been the hero in the Saturday serials of his time. Again and again, he found himself in hardships, in difficulties, and in great perils. Paul never would have been able to fulfill his calling and finish his course without the Deliverer to snatch him from danger and rescue him from evil. In his own words Paul tells us, "He rescued me from certain death. Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen" (2 Timothy 4:17-18 NLT). 

Our walk with Jesus really is an adventure of faith. The Bible never promises that we will go through life without facing perils. The promise of the Lord to us is that He will be our deliverer whenever we face them.
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©2011, 2020 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Heather Lee, used with permission. All rights reserved.

Jesus: Dayspring

-Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

Through the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;
To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of peace.
- Luke 1:78-79 NKJV

When we want to watch the setting sun, we look to the west. The setting sun reminds us that the day is over and the night has come. When we want to see the sunlight of a new day, we look to the east. The eastern sky reminds us that God is going to do a new thing. When the night sky is the darkest and the temperature is the coldest, that is when your hope can begin to soar. It is at that moment that the first light of a new day will appear before your eyes.

Are you going through a dark battle? Does it seem there is no hope in sight? Does it seem as through the dawning of victory's light will never come? Stand fast. Stand firm. Stand confident and full of hope. Keep your eyes on the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. 

The Dayspring from on high will shine His glorious light over your situation. His light will not grow dim or turn away from you. His light will show you the next step to take. The way will become clear and the way of peace will open up before you.
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©2011, 2020 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Heather Lee, used with permission. All rights reserved.

Jesus: Covenant of the People

-Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations. -Isaiah 42:6 NASB

The Scripture above is a powerful reminder to us of who Jesus is and what He has done. God's covenant promise was spoken to us in His Word, but it was fulfilled in a person. Jesus is our covenant! God's covenant promise to us will never be invalid, because Jesus will never be invalid. It is the perfect covenant, made by God and agreed to by us.

Because Jesus is the Truth, the covenant is the truth; because Jesus is eternal, the covenant is eternal; because Jesus is trustworthy, the covenant is trustworthy. God will never break His covenant promise, because Jesus is the "Yes" of God to His covenant with us and His promises to us. Each morning you can arise and say, "The covenant of God is mine because Jesus is mine."

His covenant is a covenant of peace. It is a blood covenant sealed by the shed blood of Jesus Christ upon the cross. It is a covenant of grace and mercy. It is a covenant of salvation, of relationship and fellowship, of His life becoming your life as He works His will within you to do what is pleasing in His sight (Hebrews 13:20-21).
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©2011, 2020, Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley. All rights reserved.

Jesus: Chief (Precious) Cornerstone

-Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

Behold, I am laying in Zion a chosen (honored), precious chief Cornerstone, and he who believes in Him...shall never be disappointed or put to shame. - 1 Peter 2:6 AMP

I joined the Army my first year out of high school. One of the first things I was taught as a soldier was how to march. It's not just walking. Marching meant walking with a group in an organized, orderly, and disciplined manner. Marching meant everyone went at the same pace and stayed in step, lined up with the person next to him. There was no room in the army for independent thinking or actions.

In order for us to march correctly, we were taught how to line up. We lined up in columns, and each column lined up according to the placement of the first man in the column—the anchor point. Before we could march, we had to be lined up with the point person.

The cornerstone lines up a building in the same way that a point person lines up a group of marching soldiers. It is the key foundation stone and it must be put in place first before any other stone is added. All other stones will be set in reference to the cornerstone.

Jesus Christ is the Cornerstone of your faith, your life, and your future. The only safe way to build your life is to line up each decision you make with your eyes fixed upon Jesus. Be sure that each step you take lines up with His perfect will for your life. That is the only way to live a fulfilling life.
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©2011, 2020 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Heather Lee. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

Jesus: Carpenter

-Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

Is not this the Carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? -Mark 6:3 AMP

The name Carpenter tells us a lot about Jesus as a man, including His training, His skills, and His ability to work with wood. 

When I was a teenager, I loved the idea of working with wood and creating an object someone could use in a practical way. I took wood shop all three years in high school. Even though I loved building things, I always needed the help of my shop teacher. My biggest problem was lack of knowledge of the necessary steps needed to build something correctly.

When I finished high school, I was a long way from calling myself a skilled craftsman. A master craftsman is someone who works with excellence and clearly understands all the steps necessary to bring his work to its desired end.

In a spiritual sense, we can also look at Jesus as a carpenter. He is the one who is building your life with the skill of a master craftsman. He knows where to cut, where to sand the rough spots, where to chisel, how to straighten crooked boards, how to apply the right amount of pressure to shape the wood, where to join things together, and how to apply a lasting finish. As He does His work within you, He does so with the finished work in view, and He knows exactly what He needs to do in order to bring that work to completion.

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©2011, 2020, Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley. All rights reserved.

Jesus: Anointed One

-Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power. - Acts 10:38 NASB

There is only one Anointed One, only one Messiah, only one Christ, only one Savoir that God recognizes. All of these names are found in one person, the Lord Jesus Christ.

For many years, if a manufacturer wanted to make sure his product would be accepted by the public as legitimate, reliable, and dependable, he would hope to receive the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. God's Anointed One means that Jesus Christ has received God's divine seal of approval. God will never give that approval to anyone else. Every other god, ruler, religious leader, or self-anointed savior has been completely rejected by God. God's Anointed One means that you have found the only true One to believe in, to worship, and to follow. 

Jesus Christ is not only the Anointed One, but He is also the one who was anointed by the Holy Spirit for the work God called Him to do. After His baptism in the Jordan River, Jesus went into the synagogue and read, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD" (Luke 4:18-19 NKJV). 

Today, the Anointed One can anoint you with the Holy Spirit so that you can serve Him with power in a way that will glorify Him.

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©2011, 2020 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley. All rights reserved.

Jesus: Captain of Salvation

-Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

It was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.  -Hebrews 2:10 NKJV

It is dangerous to follow someone if they are taking you in the wrong direction. The Bible calls false leaders "the blind leading the blind." Many people want to be leaders. Some take the lead and others are appointed to leadership. Whether self-appointed or man-appointed, every leader should be asked, "Where are you going?"

The apostle Paul was a leader, but he didn't tell people to follow him just because he said so. He told others to follow him as he followed Christ. Paul said to follow his lead, but he never said that he was leading. Jesus was the one leading Paul, and Paul didn't want anyone who didn't want to be led by Jesus to follow him. 

As Captain of our Salvation, Jesus leads the way to the eternal city and its glorious riches. Jesus is the pioneer, blazing the trail to heaven's door. He knows the way through the wilderness of sin, through the darkness of this world, through the quicksand of lies and deception, and through the labyrinth of false gods and empty worship. As a follower of Jesus Christ, you are a member of His holy band of brothers and sisters whom God is leading from glory to glory.

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©2011, 2020 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley. All rights reserved.