Isaiah 43:1 AMPC
But now [in spite of past judgments for Israel's sins], thus says the Lord, He Who created you, O Jacob, and He Who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you [ransomed you by paying a price instead of leaving you captives]; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.
Did you know that your name is very important to God?
The Bible is full of lists of names. I've just finished reading a massive list of them in the book of Chronicles and really wondered what purpose a list like that serves!
Then the Holy Spirit put on my heart that we are not just anonymous beings to the Lord - He calls us out by name.
We see it in Samuel's life:
1 Samuel 3:4
Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, "Here I am."5 And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay down.6 Again the LORD called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." "My son," Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down."7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.8 The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy.9 So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, `Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place.10 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
And again with Paul (Saul):
Acts 26:13 About noon, Your Majesty, as I was on the road, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone down on me and my companions. 14 We all fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is useless for you to fight against my will. 15 “‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked. “And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting.
Your name is known and precious to the Lord and He has a place and time to call you personally by name.
It's the Holy Spirit's promptings that will tug at your inmost being.
When it happens don't ignore or put it off.
Our dog, Roki, sometimes totally ignored us when we call him - then we have to grab his collar or put him on a lead to make him follow us.
Psalm 32:9 AMPC
Be not like the horse or the mule, which lack understanding, which must have their mouths held firm with bit and bridle, or else they will not come with you.
Let's always be quick to respond when Jesus calls us!
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