- 79. Redeemed, Named, Owned
Isaiah 43:1 But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them. And further, I believe that He shaped and formed me with His own hands out of the dust and made one unique me that was just what He wanted. “He formed me” = He arranged my DNA. This God redeemed me, called me by name, and made me His own. God didn’t make a mistake: I am the one that uglified and messed up my life. But God is the one who corrected my mistakes, redeemed this lost and condemned creature, gave me a name, and adopted me as His own.
The Lord redeemed me. This is a promise: I have been redeemed and I now remain in a state of redemption. Every day I can say, “I am redeemed.” I am redeemed, re-created, and resurrected by faith in Jesus Christ. Although my body is not yet resurrected I am now by faith in Christ resurrected and glorified. That future truth is so real it is regarded as present now. Faith in the promise is redemption and resurrection. God created me perfect once; I was kidnapped and enslaved by Sin, Death and the Devil; I was bought back by the blood of Jesus; I am restored to God’s original plan and purpose.
The Lord called my by name. He even gave me a new name. Calling me by name signifies His love and tender care for me, and it denotes a personal relationship. He is my faithful and eternal friend. And also, the Lord puts His name upon me, being baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. When Aaron gave God’s benediction he “put my name upon the people.” And God says, “I will bless them.” [Numbers 6:27] To bear the name of God is a great blessing. Don’t take it in vain.
The Lord says, “You are mine.” When God makes me His own and adopts me into His family He assumes responsibility for me. Like a perfect Father, He obligates Himself to provide, preserve, protect, nurture, teach, love and care for me. A wise child learns to play and enjoy life under such an umbrella. We get in trouble when we want to own ourselves and step our from under, which happens when we sin. But, like the Prodigal’s Father, He welcomes us back every time. “I am my Beloved’s, and He is mine; His banner over me is love.”