Monday, August 26, 2019

The Mention of Our Name

By: Joanne Viola


She’s a year old and at times, waiting can be most difficult. Like when she’s on a ride in the car and wanting to get out of her car seat. Or when bedtime is soon but not yet.

So we hand her Poppy’s cell phone because, truly, it always keeps her busy for those last few minutes. She cannot unlock it but it has that center home button and that is all she needs.

The other night was a cell phone night and she held the home button just long enough for Siri to be activated. So I said, “Siri, call Eliza.”

The baby did not react to my mention of her name. However, when Siri responded, “There is no Eliza in your contacts”, she laughed, smiled, and could not contain her excitement.

The mention of her name was all it took for her to be overwhelmed with delight.

Her reaction brought to mind a Scripture which has filled my heart with awe since first discovering it years ago:

“But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.” 
(Isaiah 43:1, NKJV)

The baby’s reaction to her name has caused me to turn to read this verse every day for over a week as these thoughts began to form:
  • He has created us. Let these words fall on you anew – “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous – how well I know it” (Psalm 139:13-14, NLT). Each one of us – handcrafted and unique.
  • He has redeemed us. He has ransomed us, saving us from the bondage of sin. He alone is able to reclaim us and make all things new. “With his own blood – not the blood of goats and calves – he entered the Most High Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever” (Hebrews 9:12, NLT).
  • He has called us. The Lord Himself has called out each of our names and called us His own. “In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus” (1 Peter 5:10a, NLT). His voice spanned the expanse of space and time to call out each of us by name, specifically and purposefully.
May the mention of our name fill us with delight.
“I have called you by your name; You are Mine. “



Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash
 








3 comments:

  1. It's such a gift when God calls us to the truth of a particular scripture for a particular reason. The little people in our lives are so often the reason why we dig deeper!

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    Replies
    1. Michele, I am amazed at how God has used the little ones in our family to grow me deeper in Him.

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  2. This is a beautiful story, Joanne! It is amazing that God knows us individually and calls us by name!

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