I Have Called You by Your Name
October 31st, 2008 at 10:49 am (Musings)
“My name is graven on His hands; my name is written on His heart”…”You knew my name before there was time”…”He knows my name”. I’ve noticed this common thread running through many of my favorite songs; the idea that God knows our names–my name–and whenever I hear a line like that, it tugs at my heart and brings me nearly to tears. I’ve been wondering exactly why it does mean so much to know that God knows my name. I think it’s because a name is such a fundamental part of an identity. Your name in a way defines who you are. It’s how you can be found, and what takes you from being just one face in the throng to one who can be known. When your name is known to someone, you are no longer an abstract idea just floating around out there. You become real. It also has to do with trust. Why else are we so careful about giving out names to strangers or online?
Because of all that, the fact the God knows each and every one of our names means that He doesn’t just view humanity as one uniform mass of people. He sees each individual face making up that crowd, and He knows each name, and He can be trusted with it. He knows each of the billions of people on this earth more deeply than they know themselves. And He loves us anyway! He knows and loves you.
“ Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.” -Isaiah 43:1
Michael said,
October 31, 2008 at 11:22 am
Wow…great post! Very good reminder…and all very true.
Our God is an Awesome God, is he not?!
Megan said,
October 31, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Michael beat me to commenting?! What has this would come to?
I’m just kidding. 
Very good stuff, WO. (: (: (: I’ll be back re-reading this again soon.
SapphiraAdi said,
October 31, 2008 at 8:24 pm
awesome post! its so true. that last part made me think of Kutless’ song Sea of Faces “I am not just a man, vastly lost in this world. Lost in a sea of faces.” echoing Michael, that was a good reminder.
Courtney (IWUwombat) said,
October 31, 2008 at 8:25 pm
*sigh* good stuff! I love that verse!
p.s. you need to write in this thing more often!
Josh said,
October 31, 2008 at 8:26 pm
I think one of the most amazing things in Scripture is that God calls us by our name. That we are all important as individuals to our Creator. I think this is heightened when we realize how sacred a name was in Jewish society. The entirety of a person’s identity was wrapped up in their name. The first thing Jesus did when he met Simon (listener) was to change his name to Peter (rock). I think Jesus was saying, you don’t listen all that well, Mr. Listener. Your new name is Rocky because you’re always quick to the punch.
Excellent post!
Michael said,
December 27, 2008 at 10:38 am
So…the throngs clamor for another post!!! It’s been awhile.
Megan said,
December 28, 2008 at 11:02 pm
You should write a post. Before 2009 comes. Hows about that? Maybe about camels. Or Eric Wilson. Or Ted Dekker. What do ya think? Or maybe just about that crazy/awesome life of yours. Loveeeee.
Caitlyn said,
October 22, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Beautiful thought, Theresa. I’m melting right now. <3 He has Named us. Hallelujah, amen…
You should read A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L'Engle, if you haven't already.
Theresa said,
October 25, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Thanks, Caitlyn. I’d really like to explore this idea more sometime if I get a chance. I also really ought to update this blog more often! And I just got that book at a library sale not long ago! It’s already in my mental “to read” list.