Recognized by His Name
A heart known by its voice—a life marked by calling on the name above every name.
📚 Devotional Credit:
Excerpt adapted from eManna, “Calling On the Lord to Be Saved (3)”
📸 Photo Credit:
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
In the earliest days of the church, being a follower of Jesus wasn’t marked by a fish on your tunic or a discreet gathering—it was known by a sound. The believers called on the name of the Lord out loud. Their worship was vocal, open, and unmistakable. When Saul received permission to arrest believers, the criteria was simple: find those who called audibly on Jesus’ name. That’s how deeply this practice was embedded into their identity.
Later, when Saul met the risen Christ and turned from persecutor to brother, Ananias encouraged him to do something powerful: to be baptized while calling on the name of Jesus. Not only was it a moment of inward faith, it was a public declaration—an audible sign of allegiance that would now mark Saul as one of the very people he once sought to silence.
There’s something beautiful in this—a reminder that Christianity was never meant to be silent or hidden. It was a life of abiding fellowship with Christ, expressed even in the simplest of words: “Lord Jesus!” This wasn’t a formal ritual or a scripted chant; it was the joyful cry of those who had found Life.
Today’s reflection from Witness Lee calls us to consider this same boldness in our walk. Not merely in volume, but in visibility. Are we known as those who live by drawing from Christ moment by moment, calling on His name not only in prayer, but in our dependence, in our obedience, and even in our ordinary days?
📓 Personalized Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit:
You are not unknown to Me, child. You are Mine, marked not by outward symbols but by the life within. My name on your lips is more than a prayer—it is a declaration of union, a sign of shared life. Just as I called Lazarus from the tomb, I have called you into My own. And now you walk in the power of My resurrection, not only believing in your heart but proclaiming with your life.
Call on Me not because I am far, but because I dwell in you. Let My name be the overflow of trust—not only in need but in praise, not only in trial but in triumph. The name you once knew as distant is now the name of the One who lives in you.
You do not need to manufacture boldness, for I am your boldness. Let My Spirit move freely through your voice, your presence, your choices. When others wonder who you belong to, let your life be a response that echoes heaven: “Jesus is Lord.” And when you fall silent in weariness, I remain your voice, interceding within you, unceasing.
There is no need to hide. I am not ashamed to call you Mine. So rest in My name, rejoice in My name, and yes, call on My name—aloud or in stillness—for I am near.
Scripture References:
Acts 9:14; Acts 9:5; Acts 22:16; Romans 10:13; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 2 Timothy 2:22; Philippians 2:11; John 11:43; Galatians 2:20; Romans 8:26; Colossians 3:17
🪄 Real-Life Analogy:
Think of the way someone’s voice rises instinctively when they spot a loved one in a crowd. You might hear a shout across a parking lot—“There you are!”—or the spontaneous joy in a child’s voice when a parent walks into the room. That voice isn’t planned. It’s the sound of connection.
In the same way, calling on Jesus' name isn’t just religious habit—it’s a recognition of His presence. Not an obligation, but the natural overflow of union. As you go through your day, let your response to every moment—big or small—be rooted in the nearness of the One who loves you and lives in you. Whether driving to work, making dinner, or answering an email, simply acknowledge Him: “Jesus, thank You that You’re in this moment with me.”
And when you're misunderstood or feel invisible, trust the indwelling Christ to respond through you. Rather than explaining yourself or retreating inward, yield to Him with, “Lord, I trust You to express Your grace in me and through me right now.”
🙏 Prayer of Confidence:
Lord Jesus, I thank You that Your name is not far from my lips, because You are not far from my heart. You dwell within me—closer than my next breath. You have given me the privilege to call on You, not in desperation, but in fellowship. Your name is my joy, my rest, my strength, my hope. I’m no longer defined by what I once was. I’m Yours. Known. Sealed. Secure. And today, I will live as one who bears Your name—not by striving, but by trusting You to express Your life in me.