Exodus 6:2-3 English Standard Version (ESV)

² God spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am the Lord. ³ I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord I did not make myself known to them.

What is the distinction here? God does everything with purpose and the message of how God made Himself known to these individuals differently is significant. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were the lineage of Israel. Moses was the foreshadowing of Christ, what we call a tupos, a type.

Exodus 33:11a English Standard Version (ESV) Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.

The relationship changed from being a national identity to a personal relationship.

Why is this significant to us? We can worship God Almighty and perform all the rites and ceremony but if you want to have a relationship with the One True God, you must make Him the Lord of your life.

Jesus is the Savior of the world and He is the Lord. Many just want a savior but would rather forgo having a Lord. That attitude keeps those “believers” from having a relationship with our Lord.

Think of it like this. Jesus is perfect in performance and never sinned. Would He take up residence in a temple that did not belong to Him? No, that would be a trespass. The issue of our indwelling Christ and all that He is centers around ownership.

1 Peter 1:18-19 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁸ knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

The offer of His blood sacrifice has only one condition. He can only set free that which belongs to Him therefor He must become our Lord.

Jeremiah 29:11 English Standard Version (ESV) For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

How can we discover the plan that God has for us?

Psalm 138:8 English Standard Version (ESV) The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Ephesians 2:10 English Standard Version (ESV) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

God will find a way for us to discover His plan for us because we, being His workmanship, have been molded into vessels for honor.

2 Timothy 2:20-22 English Standard Version (ESV)

²⁰ Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 

²¹ Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

²² So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

1 Timothy 1:5 English Standard Version (ESV) The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

We will discover our purpose when we discover His indwelling love that issues forth from a pure heart.

2 Timothy 1:9 English Standard Version (ESV) who saved us and called us toa holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

Since He gave us this purpose and grace in Christ, we will discover that purpose in our relationship with our Lord.