called by name

This mornings’ reading of My Utmost was good. I needed it today. I have been in a weird kind of mood for the last several days. I go back and forth between joy and frustration concerning some ministry stuff going on. I have to constantly remind myself that I am just a steward of what God has entrusted and that He will do the work in the lives of teenagers. Too often I think I might just be getting in the way. Anyway, what I needed this morning was what Mary received in John 20:11-18. Mary didn’t recognize Jesus until he called her by name. That is way cool to me. The fact that the Creator of the Universe knows me by name absolutely blows my mind. The fact that I have a relationship with Him through the blood of Christ reminds me of my worth in His eyes. I am also reminded of my unworthiness without Him. The fact that He knew me first and loved me first while I was yet a sinner causes me to stir internally with joy and gratefulness. And for today, I needed to be quiet enough to hear His voice call my name. Today, just as He did for Mary in this passage, I needed Him to speak my name with love and tenderness. I am reminded of the voice parents use when getting the attention of a child. You know the voice, firm with the usage of your entire name- first, middle, and last. You know that when one of your parents uses that voice they mean to get your attention and get it quickly. Now, think about the complete opposite of that…hopefully you know that voice from a parent as well. My Panamanian mother says to me, “mi corazon.” When she says that to me I know that she means that I am “her heart” or sometimes in spanish it goes without saying that it means “my love.” It is tender, sweet, and adoring. So this is how our Abba Father calls us, tenderly and with compassion, care, and love. This is not the calling of your name when He first calls you to follow Him necessarily, it is the calling of your name when you need encouragement and compassion. Today I needed that, I needed to hear Him call me tenderly by name. I just had to be quiet enough to hear Him. And by the way, so do you. Be still and know that He is God and that He calls you tenderly by name.

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