Indelibly Marked

Chuckle: A password audit found a young lady using this password: MickeyMinniePlutoHueyLouieDeweyDonaldGoofySacramento." When asked why the long password, she said she was told that it had to be at least eight characters long and include at least one capital.

Quote: "Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy." --Anne Frank

God said, "I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on my hand" (Isaiah 49:15-16 NLT).

The Children of Israel were in bondage in Babylon. Some felt that God had forsaken and abandoned them. But Isaiah reminded them that God would never forget them, as a loving mother could never forget her little child. When God said, He had written their names on His hand, He was referring to an ancient practice at the time of Isaiah's prophetic ministry. It was a custom to show their allegiance to some important person by permanently marking their hands with the name of that person.

In addition to God's marking the names of His people on His hand, there are numerous other references in Scripture that tell us God has placed our names in His permanent record, if we know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Our names are written in the Book of Life (Rev. 20:15; 21:27). Jesus "calls his sheep (followers) by name" (John 10:3 NIV). "Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit" (Eph. 1:13 NIV). "He (Jesus). . . set his seal of ownership on us . . ." (2 Cor. 1:22 NIV).

Like the Children of Israel, there may be times when you feel God has forgotten you. But all these promises from God's Word, affirm that you belong to God and He has marked you as His most treasured possession -- "a people belonging to God" (1Pet. 2:9 NIV). God genuinely cares about you and you are always on His mine. I believe it was Max Lucado who said, "If God carried a wallet, your picture would be in it." There is ample evidence that God has committed to love and care for you, and there is not the remotest possibility that He will ever forget you or abandon you. "God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Heb. 13:5 NIV).

If you have lost a loved one or some other tragedy has befallen you recently, I pray you will draw comfort from knowing that God is aware of your pain and wants to grant you a special measure of His love, grace, and peace. Please turn to Him and let Him fill your heart with His presence and His joy.

Love, Jerry & Dotse