Who dat is my shorthand for “Who is that?”

Although the precise difference between a ‘name’ and a ‘title’ may be open to interpretation, 198 different names and titles of Jesus in the Bible are listed in Cruden’s Concordance, first published in 1737. Found via Google search.

Listing all those names and titles will not gain us much here.

John 12:34 English Standard Version (ESV) So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?”

The names and titles for Jesus in the bible held specific meaning and identities based on who is reading, what they are reading, what they have been taught, what they believe and their own needs.

Know that Christ dwells in our hearts. The spirit of truth will correct error in our minds, if we are willing to listen and discover how to listen with our hearts rather than our intellect. Paul’s exhortation to renew our minds in Romans 12:2 is directed at correcting errors in thinking. It is one thing to think we know Christ and another to discover the Christ that dwells in our hearts.

Using these new spiritual ears and eyes is an adjustment. It is the way to receive truth from He who is truth. When we read about Jesus in the bible and our thinking is in error, correction of error comes from our hearts by use of those spiritual ears and eyes. If we have not learned how to perceive with them, renewing the mind becomes a more difficult task. Not impossible, just more difficult.

As was written before, reasoning with God is all about correcting error. That cannot happen if we turn a deaf ear to God. We must trust God, hear God and accept correction.

Galatians 2:20 English Standard Version (ESV) I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Referring back to previous devotionals, our attitude in who we receive into our hearts determines how we treat Him. Is he a friend, a big brother, a savior or just someone we would like to get to know? What makes this visit different from any of our previous relationships is the fact that once He comes in, He will not leave.

When we answer the knocking at the door, we have an expectation of this visitor. What those expectations are will be personal. Did we know that He would not be leaving? Did we think He would come and go to attend to more pressing matters than ourselves? As in any relationship expectations will change as we get to know one another. Perhaps we did not even know this was going to be an intimate personal relationship. Each person will have their own perspective of the indwelling Christ.

As with all expectations, getting to know someone changes our perspectives and develops knew expectations. In any good relationship an exchange of information is required. What we discover as we get to know Christ in us is that He is truth and will speak truth in love as no one else has ever done for us before.

At this point we may find ourselves a little uncomfortable with the truth. Or not. We as individuals will respond to our “visitor” according to our personality and perspective. Our concepts of who this Christ is in this relationship will change because we are changed just because He is in our hearts.

Do our minds, our will and our emotions understand what is happening in our hearts? Our souls are still flesh and being saved even if we do not understand it properly.