One Sunday morning as I was on my way to church, I noticed a big, bright billboard. Billboards, of course, are meant to be seen. The point of a billboard is to be eye-catching, but this one caught my eye for a reason. As far as billboards go, it was actually rather plain. No beautiful models, no cute little kids, no funny cartoons. It was just one big sentence with the name of the business in the lower right hand corner. I don’t remember the name of the business (some finance company), but I do remember the words emblazoned across the sign.

The message they were trying to convey is clear. They were promising to have a more personal relationship with their customers than other similar businesses. You would be more than just an abstract account on their computer. They would actually know your name!

Now the reason this sign got my attention was because at first I thought it was quoting a Scripture verse! I even twisted around in my seat to see what it actually said. It was that phrase “call you by your name” that was so familiar. It’s found in Isaiah 43:1.

These words are spoken by God. Here in Isaiah, He is speaking to Israel. The context of this verse is one of reassurance. He begins this statement with a “fear not” and then encourages them with the knowledge that He knows them! The intent of this sentence is the same as the sentence on that billboard. It’s a declaration and a promise of a personal relationship. Just as God knows the name of Israel, He knows your name, too.

Often in Scripture, when God spoke to people He addressed them by their name. From the little boy Samuel to the zealous persecutor Saul, God called them by their name. Knowing someone’s name and using it makes a connection with that person. It’s a personal thing.

I have an unusual name. It’s almost one of a kind. I say ‘almost one of a kind’ because I have occasionally seen my name in print. And I did actually meet another Velva Jane. (That’s my full name. As a child I was called Velva Jane and my sister was Iva Jean. Cute, huh? So I had to chuckle the day I discovered a “Velva Jean” book series.) Anyway, I mention my name, because it can be a problem. I have been called Velma, Velda, Belva, Velvet, and even Barbara! When someone gets my name right, I am quite pleased and surprised! How pleased I am that God knows my name! He doesn’t get it wrong. And the fact that He knows my name implies so much more. It means He knows me!

The verse in Isaiah also speaks of an intimacy. God declares “you are mine”! This is why He calls us, and this is why He calls us by our names. He wants that intimate, personal relationship with us. He knows us and loves us as individuals. When He calls us by our name, we should answer. We don’t need to fear having a relationship with a God who knows our name.

Let’s get personal with God.