The Name Craze (Part 2)

Bible Reading: Isaiah 49:13-16; 53:5-6; John 20:24-27

Kenda nudged her mother as they waited for the church service to start. “Look, Mom!” She pointed to the church bulletin. Mom smiled when she saw the title of the pastor’s sermon: “The Name Craze.”

Kenda listened closely when Pastor Davis began his message. “Our names are important to us,” he said. “We all are alert to the sound of our own names. We even like to see them in print and have them written on things we own.”

Just like me, Kenda thought. But Mom and I can’t find anything with my name printed on it.

“Names are important to God too,” Pastor Davis continued. “In Isaiah 43:1, God says, ‘I have called you by your name; You are Mine.’ And in John 10, Jesus is talking about Himself when He says the shepherd calls His own sheep by name. The fact that God knows each of us by name shows how much He loves and cares for us. In Isaiah 49:16, He even says our names are engraved on the palms of His hands. Have you ever written something on your hand so you would remember it?”

Kenda looked down at her hands and smiled. There was a faded reminder on one that said “math test” so she would remember to study.

“When God said our names were engraved on His hands, He meant it literally,” said Pastor Davis. “When Jesus rose from the dead, He bore scars on His hands from where He was nailed to the cross for our sins. Those scars will be there for all eternity as a reminder of His great love for us.”

After church, Mom told Kenda she had a surprise for her. Kenda gasped when Mom handed her a package with an assortment of pens and notebooks with the name Kenda on them. “Mom! Where did you find these?”

“I found a website where you can print any name you want on an item,” Mom said. “I wanted you to have something with your name on it.”

“Thanks, Mom!” Kenda picked up a pen with her name on it. “The first thing I’m going to do with this is write myself a reminder.” On the palm of her hand, she wrote the words Jesus loves me. • Raelene E. Phillips

How About You?

Are you aware that names are important to God? He knows you by name, and He loves you so much He sent His Son to die for you. Jesus bears scars on His hands and feet where He was nailed to a cross to take the punishment for your sins. Thank Him for His great love and the sacrifice He made for you. Always remember that your name is written on the palms of His hands.

Today’s Key Verse:
Isaiah 49:16 See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands. (NLT)

Today’s Key Thought:

God knows you by name