President’s Message January 2012

Dear members and friends of our ELS:
Name identification is everything in the advertising world. The big brands and the wannabes count on customers associating positive feelings simply by company name. Personal names, too, mean a lot. Look at the amount spent annually in protecting identities. With loss of name identity, coping with legal and civil duties seems impossible.
One identifying name surpasses all else: Jesus. January 1st marks the anniversary of Baby Jesus’ circumcision and naming. His name identifies him as “Savior.” He has come as our own rescue from sin and death. He has come for all. Everyone is to know this identifying name for one’s own personal rescue—eternally.
Beginning a new calendar, we each might ask: How can I play a part in bringing the name of Jesus to one more soul who does not yet know? Like the wise men of old, we worship the young Christ-child as the Savior for sinners of every age and of all races and nations. We join those Eastern sages in desiring to “Engage Others With Jesus.”
Twelve or three? The exact number of the wise men is unknown, but their precious gifts of thanksgiving for their redemption are renowned: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Likely, the gold was used for Jesus and his poor parents’ hasty trip to Egypt. From ancient times the Christian church has surmised a special meaning behind these gifts: gold—to the King; frankincense—to God; and myrrh—to a Savior destined to die.
How can we honor God with our gifts? Is it possible the gifts we bring and the prayers we offer will result in one more soul focused on Christ as God and King who came to die and rise again? Like the Magi, we too live for a name identification—a Name none can be without!
The prophet Isaiah records two inspired predictions often linked with the Magi’s journey to Judea: The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising (Isaiah 60:3). They shall bring gold and incense, and they shall proclaim the praises of the Lord (Isaiah 60:6b). Note this latter verse in particular. In his commentary, E. Young draws attention to the plural for the word “praises.” He suggests: “This devotion manifests itself in the praises of God which are proclaimed. The plural is perhaps for the sake of intensity.”
Moved by love for the Name whose identity is even our own by faith, don’t we too possess an intensity to advertise? May our God in this new year help us help others with this Name identification.
Rev. John A. Moldstad, ELS President