Morning Devotional 092425 God Knows Our Name

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

September 24, 2025

Exodus 33:17-23

17 The LORD said to Moses, “I’ll do exactly what you’ve asked because you have my special approval, and I know you by name.” 18 Moses said, “Please show me your glorious presence.” 19 The LORD said, “I’ll make all my goodness pass in front of you, and I’ll proclaim before you the name, ‘The LORD.’ I will be kind to whomever I wish to be kind, and I will have compassion to whomever I wish to be compassionate. 20 But,” the LORD said, “you can’t see my face because no one can see me and live.” 21 The LORD said, “Here is a place near me where you will stand beside the rock. 22 As my glorious presence passes by, I’ll set you in a gap in the rock, and I’ll cover you with my hand until I’ve passed by. 23 Then I’ll take away my hand, and you will see my back, but my face won’t be visible.”

Good Morning! Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.

It is comforting when you walk into an unknown space and someone calls you by your name. You transition from being a nobody in a room of strangers to a somebody among friends. I always remember how Jesus, after his crucifixion, revealed himself to Mary Magdalene by calling her by name. 

I also remember those calls home when I was in college. My heart jumped when I heard my mom and dad call me by name in a way that only they did. One of the most demeaning things is when you are stripped of your name and assigned a number.

The Lord knows us by name! How amazing is that! With all of the people who have been, are presently, and will be in the future, God knows our name. God, who knows our name, will not leave us to struggle by ourselves. God promises to be with us always. 

Loving Lord, you bless us abundantly! Thank you for loving us and calling us by name. Thank you. We love you, Lord! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen

Thought for the day: God knows us and calls us by name!

God loves us unconditionally! Pastor Liz