Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.

Isaiah 43:1

Recently, I was reading the book of Nehemiah. This time I considered all the names. For example, Nehemiah 8:4 lists the names of some elders who stood with Ezra: “Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah.” Do you recognize any of these names? Probably not! But I noticed that God called them by their individual names to serve him.

In the same way, God called us by our special name in Baptism as his children. He says in Isaiah, “I have redeemed you; I have called you by name.” Thank God that he adopted us in Christ and daily forgives us! He loves us by name! Thus, we can serve him and serve others by their names!

Paul Hoffman
Parma, OH

Dear Lord, thank you that you forgive me and call me by name. Direct me to serve others, whether I know their names or not. Amen.

Reflect: Make place cards with a cross for your family table. Thank God!

Read: 1 Peter 2:21 and Isaiah 41:9