Known

Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. 

Isaiah 43:1b NLT

If you've been with me for any length of time, you've seen me go from lamenting to laughing about people who want to argue with me over how my name "should be" pronounced. Really? It's my name. I've had it all my life. Granted, I may be older now, but I still know my own name.

I can top that story. For the last month, I've been in deep discussion with a certain state office that wanted to argue with me about my legal name - the one I've had for years. It would be different if I had a nickname on a legitimate form of ID, but all of my identifying documents have the same name - mine - that is, except for my recently-issued driver's license because I couldn't convince them with a certified copy of my birth certificate, my SS card, last year's W-2, my electric bill, and my recently expired driver's license (I know - my fault) that I am me. They issued with a name from my past (WAY past). That's who I was - it's not who I am now.

But...Praise God! He's shown me yet again, that it doesn't matter who tries to put what on me, in more ways than one - and in the most important way that counts - by the great Grace of God, I am NOT who I was. I am changed. HE ransomed me and He has called me by name - His.

Prayer:

Father,
I will not be afraid. I have heard You call my name. I know Whose I am and who I am in You. I thank You for all that You've done, all that You're doing, and all that You're going to do. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Unknown God

So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.

“He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need.
Acts 17:22-25 NLT

I once met a man named Charles, who was a master at being able to take any subject and turn it around to become a message of salvation and the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was beautiful to watch in action. Sometimes, people would throw words or opening lines at him just to see if they could stump him. They never could.

In today's Scripture, Paul does the same thing! The Athenians had all sorts of idols prominently displayed in their city and just in case they missed any, there was one shrine designated "To an Unknown God." Paul takes the nameless one and makes it about the One whose Name is above all names. The only Name by which we can be saved! He takes the one not assigned to a temple and makes it about the God who doesn't live in man-made temples, but lives inside of us because our bodies are His temple. The one who has no temple servants in Athens and makes it about the Servant King who has no need for them!

Oh, that we would take our unknown God to "whosoever will" and make Him known!

Prayer:

Father,

We praise You for the glorious grace You have poured out on us who belong to Your dear Son. You are so rich in kindness and grace that You purchased our freedom with the blood of Your Son and forgave our sins. We want to make Your praise glorious! Give us fresh anointing and guide our words and steps so that we are able to make You known, no matter the situation. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen