18 November 2009 Devotion for Today “I Have Called You By Name” Isa 43:1-3

18 November 2009 Devotion for Today "I Have Called You By Name" Isa 43:1-3

 ¹ But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, O Jacob,
       he who formed you, O Israel:
       "Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
       I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

 ² When you pass through the waters,
       I will be with you;
       and when you pass through the rivers,
       they will not sweep over you.
       When you walk through the fire,
       you will not be burned;
       the flames will not set you ablaze.

 ³ For I am the LORD, your God,
       the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

    How is it that God, God's son, God's angels can so confidently tell God's people to "Fear not?" Don't they see what's happening? Don't they care about the harm we're about to experience? Are they living in some kind of divine state of denial? The answer follows those two words in vs. 1. "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine." God knows us (I have summoned you by name). We belong to God (you are mine.)
    God can say, "Fear not," because God knows that he's going to be with us no matter what. That's what vs. 2 is about. "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned." God never tells us there won't high waters, raging rivers or blazing fires in our lives. He just says, "When you are in the middle of those worst case scenarios, fear not. I am with you."
    Each football season the Texas Longhorns play the Oklahoma Sooners in the Red River Shoot Out. It is played in the neutral city of Dallas. Thousands of fans from each team invade the city to witness the clash between these archrivals. Sometimes the clash extends beyond the playing field. One year a scuffle broke out in the stands and a handful of men were arrested and taken down town. To avoid jail they had to pay a $ 250.00 fine. One fan didn't have the money. All he had besides his drivers' license was his Neiman Marcus credit card. He showed the card to the judge, who said, "You can't pay your fine with that. You're spending the weekend in jail."
    When the man got to make his phone call, he didn't call his wife. He called the Neiman Marcus store and told them his story. The story made it's way up the company ladder until a Neiman Marcus vice-president said, "This guy is one of our customers, we'll help him out." The paid his fine and charged his card.
    Now, if Neiman Marcus could be loyal to a customer, do you think maybe your Father in heaven could be loyal to one of his children? And God won't charge your card. *
    Remember the young man who was arrested a few years ago in Singapore for some small infraction of their very strict laws? He was found guilty and sentenced to caning. It's not real important whether or not he was guilty or if the punishment fit the crime. The point is that his story made front page news here in the states. And the president appealed to Singapore for leniency -- for one reason; that kid was an American citizen. He belongs to us and we went to bat for him.
    That's why God can say, "Fear not." We belong to him. No matter what happens, no matter what we do, God is going to be with us in the flood, with us in the fire, with us when the worst happens.

Prayer: Dear God, I am in over my head right now, and it looks like the worst is happening to me. The flood waters are rising, and the flames are licking around my heels. Help me to trust in You, and not to fear. Let me know that hope lies beyond the flood, and on the other side of the flames. In Jesus Name, Amen.

*Jeremy Houck- "When the Worst Happens," Sermoncentral.com