Daily Devotionals

You are to name him Yeshua (which means 'Adonai saves'), because he will save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).

Several years ago I was teaching through the Book of Matthew. When I came to the above passage, I explained to my congregation that the name "Yeshua" means "Adonai saves," and that he was given this name because his purpose on earth was to "save his people from their sins."

From the moment that Yeshua took on human form, everything he said and did was focused on that objective. It led him to lay down his life to atone for our sins. "As his representatives here on earth, we need to reflect this same attitude of servanthood," I told the people. "Everything we do needs to be carried out with one purpose in mind—'to save his people from their sins.'"

That message transformed our congregation! For months, our ushers would arrive at the building earlier than usual to prepare the sanctuary. Our Shabbat (Sabbath) school teachers served with extra enthusiasm. Our music ministry team spent extra hours in prayer and preparation. All of them declared, through word or deed, that they were performing their tasks for one purpose— "to save his people from their sins."

We need to look at our walks with the Lord in this light. We should begin seeing everything that we say and do with singleness of purpose—"to save his people from their sins."

...say and do everything with one thought in mind— "to save his people from their sins."

JB