Called By Name

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you: I have called you by name; you are Mine!” Isaiah 43:1

My earliest memory of God was when I was about 5 years old. My father was in the Air Force, and my family and I lived in base housing (a three bedroom house provided for Air Force families) in San Bernardino, California.

The day I heard the call, my mom was outside watering her rose bushes, and my dad was at work on at the Air Force base. I was in the house heading for my bedroom when I heard a voice call out to me (not loudly) “Dane.” As soon as I heard it I stopped, turned around expecting to see my mom or dad, and answered “yes.”

There was no one there.

But the voice was right next to me, and it was so familiar I definitely knew it had to be either my mom or dad.  I turned around and continued toward my bedroom. Again I heard “Dane. (pause) Dane.” I turned around again and said “Mom, dad, did you call me?”

No one answered.

I ran to the front door, outside and around the house to where my mom was and asked her if she was calling me. She said no and told me to go back and play. Then I asked her if dad called me, and told her what had happened. She said no one called for me, and again told me to go play. I did as I was told, and went back to whatever it was I was doing. But the memory of that day was etched into my mind.

Years later, after I had walked away from following Jesus Christ at 13 and then repented at my dad’s deathbed when I was 21, I was reading through I Samuel. When I read chapter 3, the memory of that moment was suddenly at the forefront of my mind, and I knew for sure exactly who it was that had called me that day.

Joh 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

Has Jesus been calling you?  He knows your name.

– Dane