Devotional by Stephanie Solorzano
I recently started a Bible reading plan about the names of God. One of these names was “Adonai,” which translates as “My Lord” or “Lord Master.”
If you are like me, you love getting to know the names of God and the different aspects of His nature and character. It gets me excited! However, for some reason, this name “Adonai” was different for me than the other ones. The other names of God such as Jehovah Jireh, my provider, or Jehovah Shalom, my peace display how God is present for me and what He does for me. Whereas Adonai meaning “Lord” invites a response; it invites my surrender.
There is a story that has to be considered when learning about Adonai. It is the story of the rich, young ruler, a man who encounters Jesus. Let’s take a look at this story in Mark 10:17-22:
“As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. ‘Good teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’...Jesus answered…You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’ ‘Teacher,’ he declared, ‘all these I have kept since I was a boy.’ Jesus looked at him and loved him. ‘One thing you lack,’ he said. ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ At this, the man’s face fell. He went away sad because he had great wealth.”
I find this story extremely challenging because I see myself in the rich man’s actions. From what I understand, the rich man failed to see God as his Adonai. For the rich man, God was Lord over many things, but not Lord over everything. The one area he was missing God’s lordship was over his possessions. The man did everything right on the outside; he had been obeying all of God’s commandments from as early as a young boy. Yet, it was the rich young ruler’s heart that struggled with God being Adonai over everything. There are many reasons why we refuse to accept God as Adonai. Maybe it is fear of our future, or fear that God doesn’t have our best interest at heart. Perhaps the fear comes from feeling like we would have a better handle at controlling our lives than God.
Whatever the situation, I believe a shift will begin to happen as you finish reading this devotional. I believe there are some of us reading this that God has been asking us to follow Him into a deeper revelation of Himself for a long time, but because we lack revelation of Adonai, we go about life forsaking an opportunity to follow Jesus in a deeper way, just like the rich man. But change can happen right here.
If you want to go deeper into your walk with God today, take a second and say this prayer, “Lord you are Adonai. I trust you. With everything. All areas of my life, my family, my friends, my finances, what I own, my future, present, and past. It is all Yours, Your ways are higher. I surrender now and repent for the times I did not trust You. You have never failed me. I love you, Lord. Amen.”
“And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.” (Psalm 9:10)
