Sunday, January 18, 2026 – LeeAnn Irwin
“We Are Called By Name”
Scriptures:
ISAIAH 43:1 Israel, the Lord who created you says “Do not be afraid-I will save you. I have called you by name-you are mine.”
EPHESIANS 2:10 God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do.
As stated in ISAIAH 43:1 “ I have called you by name-you are mine” this scripture speaks first to identity and echoes the deep biblical truth that we are known personally by God, as we are his beloved children. To be called by name makes one feel like they are seen, belong, and held in a relationship. In a world where identity is often shaped by success, failure, or the expectations of others, this promise offers reassurance: our belonging is the truest form that comes God, whose love is faithful and eternal.
EPHESIANS 2:10 reminds us that we are “God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” We have all been given gifts and they are not accidental, nor are our talents meant to remain hidden. They are expressions of God’s creativity within us, given so that our lives may reflect compassion, love, and hope in real and substantial ways.
We can sometimes feel inadequate, as we live into our calling; it can feel daunting, especially when the path ahead is uncertain. Yet EPHESIANS assures us that our God who creates us with purpose also walks beside us, as we live our lives. We are not asked to produce or create meaning or goodness on our own; but rather, step into a story already shaped by God. One way God leads us is by filling us with the Holy Spirit showing us the way when we are open to receiving it.
Finally, “you are gifted, called, and chosen; you are mine” affirm that our worth and our workflow from the same source: God’s love. To be called by name is not about exclusion or superiority, but about responsibility-to live as God’s children shaped by grace and sent into the world to reflect it. In knowing we are God’s handiwork, claimed, and cherished, we are freed to shine not for our own sake, but to show God’s love to others in the world. We are not alone God is always walking beside us. God so deeply loves each of us as we are called by name!
Written by LeeAnn Irwin
"A Village Church With A Heart For The World"
Christ United Church
12 Perth St., Lyn, ON, K0E 1M0
(613)498-0281 (Phone) (613)498-2589 (Fax)
lynunitedchurch@cogeco.net www.lynunitedchurch.com Follow on Twitter: @Ch1United