When God Calls Your Name

There is nothing more wonderful and sweeter than the name of Jesus. At the name of Jesus, we are healed, restored, delivered and comforted. And there is something delightful, powerful and intimate when Jesus speaks our name. Our name can't be compared to His, no matter how influential or popular our names might represent us as a person.

Today I went to a sandwich shop for lunch. While eating, an older man sat down, his back was to me. He led his guide dog around one side of his chair to rest. Then he called for assistance. One of the cashiers responded he'd call one of the servers to help. Thanking him, the visually impaired man asked his name. Something about the question caught my attention. I glanced up while flipping through the pages of the Bible. Minutes later I watched a server make his way to the table and take his order. Once again, the man asked the man's name who took the order.

My eyes fell right on the passage in Mark. "Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means "son of Timaeus"), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" (10:46-47).

Then I heard the old man say to the young woman who came by to confirm his order,"I'm not good at hearing voices, so I ask for the name."

Here this visually impaired man couldn't discern a particular voice in a room full of noise, but he could call out the man or woman's name. When they responded, their voice would come into focus, the only unique voice attached to that individual.

A prayer flowed from my heart. "Say my name, Lord, because I can't see clearly. Speak, Jesus for my eyes are blinded by the present circumstances. Unbelief clouds my vision for seeing a clear vision of You. I need to hear you speak my name." My eyes brimmed with tears when the Lord whispered, "When you can't see in the darkness, I'll call your name. Follow the leading of My voice."

Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus(verse 49 -50).

When He calls your name, it brings joy to leap to your feet and throw off a cloak of heaviness and despair and run to Him!