Jeremiah 15:16 – Thy words were found, and I ate them, and thy words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by thy name, O Lord, God of hosts. (RSV)
Many people call me names. I am Brenda, wife, mother, Amma, friend, speaker, writer, and many more. Each name says a little something about me. For instance, the coffee store clerks, who have been preparing my weekly treat for a long time, call me "Cutinfour"!
After I give my order, they smile and ask, "Cut in four?" The fact that they remember my little idiosyncrasy touches my heart. They make me feel special. In some small way, I am not just part of the crowd.
God has names for me too. I am saint, child of God, beloved, even the called of Jesus Christ. It's unlikely that the world will hear those names. Generally, they refer to me as Christian. To them, that name, which means "Little Christ", carries certain expectations.
Our lives are made of many small encounters. The world will watch as we speed, abandon our shopping cart, litter sidewalks, argue, and whine. They will make note, and then they will say things like, "If that's a Christian, I sure don't want to be one."
The world, alternatively, will watch as we obey traffic laws, return our carts, pick up discarded cartons, and pursue peace. They will make note, and then they will say, "If that's a Christian, I want to have what they have: Jesus."
Prayer – Dear Father God, thanks for giving us Your name. It is an honour we treasure. Remind Your little Christians how to live daily in the small areas of life so that the world will take us seriously in the larger ones. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
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