I was scrolling on Facebook the other day and up popped a set of old advertisements. Some of them were from the 60’s and 70’s and others back to the 40’s and 50’s. I recognized a lot of them, they brought some good laughs looking at the things that they were selling. But then I hit the last one. It was much older than the rest and the thing that caught my eye…was my name was on it! Not my first name, but my last name and it was spelled just the way I spell mine (which doesn’t happen very often). It said that it was a print ad from the 1860’s and the headline said, “Pettit’s Eye Salve”. And the tag line said if you can’t open your eye in 10 minutes try our Pettit’s Eye Salve! Now I don’t see my last name often, especially spelled the way ours is and while there was no way I’d ever put that stuff in my eye…I loved the ad! Our names are important to us. We love to hear them spoken and even to see them in print. When someone uses my name there is a different, more personal relationship being demonstrated. When you speak my name, there is a sense that you know a bit about me. The prophet Isaiah was preaching to a group of people who needed to be encouraged, they needed to know that God cared for them and that he thought they were special to him. And to let them know that they were not just a mass of people to God…he said that he was the one who redeemed them…that he had called them by name…and that they were his. We need to remember that a relationship with the God of the Bible is personal, filled with love and faith. God doesn’t see you as one of the cast of thousands…you are precious to him and honored in his sight. That means that we are not forgotten and that when things get tough in life, God promises that he is with us and we don’t need to be afraid, because he cares for you and me enough to call us by name. And he reminds us that he is the God of eternity, and no one can snatch you out of his hand. There is that old hymn that says “What a friend we have in Jesus” …and that friend is the one who knows you by name…and is the best friend you will ever have! Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Isaiah 43:1 BSB Now this is what the LORD says— He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine!
Remember I’m praying for you!
With love, PJ
Isaiah 43:1 BSB Now this is what the LORD says— He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine!
Remember I’m praying for you!
With love, PJ