March 4, 2001
But now, this is what the LORD says--
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
Isaiah 43:1
I love hearing that God summons his people by name. It is so easy for me to fall into a more generic thinking.. God planned to save the whole world, I just happen to be part of it. This verse reaffirms for my feeble mind that God KNOWS us and loves us individually. He has called each one of us individually out of our life of sin and brought us into the Kingdom to have what we are now blessed with. He knows who we are, what we struggle with, what sins we were enslaved to and he still called us by name... to be called by name speaks of an intimacy found in friendship. It completely shatters the notion that it's a generic call. Jesus reaffirms that for all time with the words.. "Instead I have called you friends..." -John 15:15. I am continually prompted to ask why God loves me, but I know there will never be an answer I can understand this side of heaven.. God's love for me is unfathomable!