| Isaiah 43:1 – “But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, Jacob, and formed you, Israel. Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.” |
One of the more challenging things for expectant parents is to decide on a name for their newborn. Many different factors go into selecting just the right name – whether it includes a family ancestor, or they want to select something common but not overly trendy. Everyone around them seems to have an opinion, and the pressure to do it right is high. Baby Name books are popular, and hours are spent deciding on just the right one. The nursery may be decorated with the chosen name, or embroidered blankets may appear at the baby shower. The baby will soon learn to recognize their name and respond to their parents’ voices. Most parents usually take this responsibility very seriously.
We all love to hear our name spoken – it is confirmation that we are recognized by others. We are not an anonymous face lost in a crowd, but a real person with an identity. When spoken with love by someone we care about, there is nothing sweeter than our name – we feel valued and included.
There have been billions of people on earth since creation, but God knows each one of us and calls each of us by our name. We are important to him, and he wants us to live with him forever. He knows each one of us personally, and our name is like honey on his lips. Nothing is sweeter than hearing him call my name, speaking to me words of love and forgiveness. He calls my name, and I am His.
Prayer: Dear Father, thank you for loving me and knowing my name. Even if there is someone with my identical name, you know ME. You have redeemed me to live with you in heaven forever, and I belong to you. Amen.
– Betty Gossell
