God Knows You and Calls You by Name
By Rick Warren
“When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name! ‘Zacchaeus!’ he said” (Luke 19:5 TLB).
All of Zacchaeus’ life, he’d been ridiculed and rejected, first for his appearance and then for his sinful life. But Jesus did more than just look at him. By calling Zacchaeus by name, Jesus showed that he knew him. Imagine the shock Zacchaeus must have felt! How did Jesus know his name?
God not only knows where you are, he also knows who you are. He knows what you’re going through, why you’re going through it, and how you feel about it. He knows you better than you know yourself. He cares about you personally.
The name Zacchaeus means “pure one.” That’s the last thing that comes to mind when you think of a corrupt government official. He was anything but pure. And yet Jesus, calling Zacchaeus by name, was saying, “Hey, pure one, I’m coming to your house today.” Jesus was affirming what he saw in Zacchaeus, not what Zacchaeus was.
You may be afraid to get close to Jesus because you think he’s going to scold you for all the things you’ve done wrong. But Jesus wants to affirm you. He wants to let you know how much he loves you.
“Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands” (Isaiah 49:15-16 NLT).
When Jesus died on the cross and stretched out his arms and the soldiers put nails through his hands, your name was engraved there. When you get to Heaven, there will be no scars on anyone except Jesus. He’s going to have those scars for eternity to remind us how much he loves us, a way to say, “Do you think I could forget you? Not a chance! This is how much you matter to me.”
PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>
Talk It Over
What does it mean to affirm someone?
How does it make you feel to know that God affirms you and could never forget you?
What can keep you from getting close to Jesus?
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
You Make Me Crazy Complete Audio Series
Because we all know someone who tests our patience…
God calls us to love real people who don’t always act ideal. But it’s not easy.
That’s why Pastor Rick Warren’s complete audio series titled, You Make Me Crazy, is so powerful. It’s a series worth sharing with others. And it’s a series you’ll want to hear yourself again and again.
The eight messages are available as a CD boxed set or downloadable MP3s. They include:
Six Keys to Peace in Relationships
Who’s Pushing Your Buttons?
Resolving Conflict God’s Way
Finding the Love of Your Life
Breaking Free from Abuse
Escaping the People Pleaser Trap
Keeping the Crazy-makers from Making You Crazy
How to Keep Your Marriage Growing
The You Make Me Crazy complete audio series is our gift to thank you for your donation to help more people learn, love, and live the Word. Request your copy today when you give below.
Thank you for your support—and we pray God uses the You Make Me Crazy audio series to help you better love the crazy-makers in your life!
This devotional © 2017 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
You can listen to Rick Warren on OnePlace.com.
