No Stranger

Calling us by our name or nickname is music to our ears. It sings a sweet melody to us telling us that we are not a stranger. A name is a major part of our identity. It tells us who we are, who our parents are, and pretty much where we come from. It is not just a label. It gives us a significant distinction from others. It places us to the one family, one group, one location where we truly belong. In Bible times, a name holds a weighty role in society. Every name has a meaning. Their name is who they are. Fastforward to today, we can also say, our name is who we are.

God calls us by our name. How sweet and awesome that is! Our own Maker, the Creator of the heavens and earth, calls us by our name. It is a loving comfort to know the truth that God is not Someone who is far, far above us that He only tells us what to do and listens to our praises and adoration like a big boss sitting in the expanse of his ornate table. No! This picture is not of our God. He is a loving Savior who redeems us and calls each of us by our name. “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.” – Isaiah 43:1. We have nothing to fear because the God of the heavens and the earth, who holds all things together (Colossians 1:17), knows us by name. When God calls us by name it means we are valuable and precious to Him. When God calls us by name it means that we have worth. We are not worthless. If He cares to know us by our name, how much more would He care for all the cares we have in this world!

God calls us His. We belong to God. Why is belongingness such a great concern? We get our sense of worth from where we belong. We belong to a family, a friend, or a special group of people who share our principles, values, and ambitions. Being intimately part with people we love and who love us in return is what belongingness all about. We share and we live our life with them. Belonging to someone or to some people whom we call “family” anchors us emotionally and mentally. Much more graces and much more worth is appropriated to us when God Himself establishes us in Him to belong to Him. This is such a wonderful truth! We belong to God and we are His. He Himself tells us that we are His. When this truth sink in, we realized there is nothing to fear or worry about. We are the sons and daughters of our Abba Father (Romans 8:15) who is the sovereign, gracious, and loving God. Indeed, no one can bring a charge against us or to condemn us (Romans 8:32-34). In Him, we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37) and nothing can ever separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39).