Isaiah 43:1

What’s in a name?

Think back to when you were younger, perhaps in elementary, junior or high school, especially when it came to the opposite sex.  Was there a school mate that you wanted to notice you? Talk to you? Ask you on a date??  For me, it was usually hoping that he knew my name, if nothing else.  For some of us, our world evolved around this.  Our insecurities seemed to, at times, run our emotions.  Having someone know our name was the ultimate goal.

As I became older, that desire did not change.  I longed to be accepted for who I was, loved unconditionally, and appreciated.  For me, that acceptance was not easily recognizable.  I became a “yes” person, feeling that if I always said yes, that acceptance would be just around the corner.  Instead, what happened, was just the opposite.  I felt taken more advantage of, less loved accepted.  Saying “no” to anyone was always at my personal expense.  Then something happened to change this.

In my very early 20’s, I met a young woman who told me that she knew someone who would give me everything I needed and did I want to meet him?  You betcha!  She took me to a coffeehouse where a number of young people, like us, were meeting.  They began talking about Jesus and how He knew them by name and how He loved them unconditionally.  They shared that their past made no difference to Him.  I became angry as I listened to them.  I got up and walked out of the meeting.  However, something kept driving me back to this place.  It took about six weeks to get over my anger and hesitancy about this “whole thing”.  I began to realize that they were speaking truth.  I decided to take “a change on Jesus”.

It is now close to 50 years later and I still walk with Jesus.  I have learned, in real time, it doesn’t matter if others know my name; it only matters that He knows it.  Isaiah 43:1 says, “But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine”.

Does Jesus know your name?  Do you know His?  If not, it’s not too late.