30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
LUKE 19 1-10 SEEKING TO SAVE THE LOST 09 He has called us by our name
📖 Luke 19:1-10
23Nov2020 - *He has called us by our name* - _Luke 19:1-10_ - SEEKING TO SAVE THE LOST 9 – Bible reading: _Isaiah 42:6-7_
_Luke 19:5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house."_
The Lord was now at the foot of the tree and was looking up at Zacchaeus. The Lord had come to seek and to save the lost. _Luke 19:10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."_
This must have been the most embarrassing moment, which Zacchaeus would have never wanted to happen. He had found himself a convenient spot, where no one would get to know that he, the rich and evil tax collector, had also come to see the Rabi, who was passing by. This was a spot from where he could get a good look at Jesus, for he wanted to know who Jesus was.
Now, it was all turning into the most awkward time for Zacchaeus.
Jesus came right to the particular tree in which he was sitting and he was looking up at him. Along with Jesus, the entire crowd too had gathered around the tree, wondering what Jesus was doing by going close to a tree. Then the crowd saw Jesus looking up the tree. They too looked up the tree and who did they see there? They saw the wicked, corrupt, short-statured, chief tax collector, Zacchaeus, whom they all hated.
Then Jesus called him by his name, “Zacchaeus…”
The crowd was shocked. How did the Lord know this wicked man’s name? They all knew him by name and his name embodied for them all that was malicious and crooked in the world. Zacchaeus was shaken above everybody else. How did He know me by my name?
Friends, this who our God is. He knows us by our name. He is the God of infinite understanding. _Psalm 147:3-5 He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds. (4) He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name. (5) Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite._
_Isaiah 43:1-2 But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; *I have called you by your name; You are Mine*. (2)
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you._
Many of us do not live life with this understanding that we are known by God, by our name.
Imagine if the head of our country knew us by our name. What a difference that would make for us? Yet, that is too small a comparison. Here, the God of heaven and earth, the creator, the one in whom all things hold together, knows us by our name.
That reality must alter all things in our life. We must live life in freedom, joy and victory. Always wanting to please Him for we would not want to let Him down for He knows us and confesses us before others that He knows us by our name.
_Isaiah 45:4 For Jacob My servant's sake, And Israel My elect, *I have even called you by your name; I have named you*, though you have not known Me. Isaiah 49:15-16 “Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, *Yet I will not forget you. (16) See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands*; Your walls are continually before Me._
He has called us by our name for His purpose is to reveal His nature and character through us. We are here to represent Him. Not only does He know us and calls us by our name, but He also gives His name to us. We are all called by His name.
We carry upon ourselves the family name of Jesus. Just as we have our name, followed by our surname or our family name, our family name is Jesus, the King. We are children of the King.
_Act 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And *the disciples were first called Christians* in Antioch._
All of us, who are the children of God, carry upon ourselves the common family resemblance of Jesus. _I John 4:17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; *because as He is, so are we in this world*._
He has called us to represent Him in the world and fulfil His purpose here on earth. _Ephesians 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,_
_Isaiah 42:6-7 "I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles, (7) To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the prison, Those who sit in darkness from the prison house._
*Thought to ponder*
```Too often, we the children of God, have lived as though we are not the children of God.```