As we were reading in our devotions this morning We came across several verses in Isaiah 43 that we have quoted for years. This is in preparation for the Sabbath. I am looking forward to being back with my class and being in the
morning service. I have missed three Sundays.
Isaiah 43:1-2 "Fear not, for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
When thou passeth through the waters, I will be with thee,
and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned,
neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
For I am the Lord thy God."
No need for us to be afraid, the Lord knows our name. I remember as a child ~
being afraid of the dark. My older brother always played jokes on the younger
siblings. He seem to enjoyed it ~but I sure didn't. I remember getting so scared that I literally could not moved. But when Mama got ahold of him I knew everything was okay. One night I walked in my sleep. I guess it is the only time I did that. I was dreaming of a man that had passed away and I was so scared. In my dream it was real. I heard Mama call my name and I was in her room shivering. When she ask me what I wanted I gave her a silly answer.
I wanted some raisins. Where that came from I don't know ~
but Mama called my name and I was okay.
Aren't you glad the Lord knows our name? When He calls our name we know everything is going to be okay. Why? Because we belong to Him.
When we are in the waters and the rivers we will be okay. I almost drowned when I was around 10 years old. But a hand reached down and lifted my head above the water. It was my uncle. But the Lord said the waters wouldn't cover us. We might think we are going down at times, but He takes us by the hand and lifts us up above the floods.
Then He said when we walk through the fire we would not be burned and wouldn't even have the smell of smoke.
Ah, doesn't that sound familiar? The three Hebrew children took a stand for the Lord. They did not know how things were going to come out. They just took a leap of faith. You know the greatest and most wonderful part? Lo, the Lord was right there with them and they came out without a hair singed.
Sometimes we just have to take a leap of faith knowing that we belong to the King of Kings and Lord of Lord's. Knowing, also, that He knows our name.
We can trust Him, because He has never failed us and never will.
Bless His Holy Name!
Have a good Sabbath. Go to church expecting something from the Lord. I'm taking my cup and I'll bring along my saucer too. No telling what the Lord will see fit to do and I want to prepare my heart and be ready.