February 15, 2013 (Friday)
“I have called you by name; you are mine”–The LORD who created you (Isaiah 43:1 NLT)
Gilbert and Sullivan’s, “The Mikado,” featured a reluctant executioner who was hesitant to execute anyone. When questioned about it, he replied with a song that began like this: “If someday it may happen that a victim must be found, I’ve got a little list, I’ve got a little list Of society’s offenders who may well be underground And who never would be missed, they never would be missed..”
Really? Where would we be able to find a person who would not be missed by anyone?
I conducted a funeral service one day and the only people in the chapel were the funeral director and I. Even then, I’m sure there was someone, somewhere who had had contact with the deceased and who would miss him in some way.
Years ago my grand daughter, Melinda, a pre-schooler at the time, sang a solo at church, and the song was, “I’m Special.” Of course, she was special to us, her family, but the song made it clear that she was special to God.
Isnt’ it true that every person in this world is special to God? The proof of that is found in John 3:16 where we are told that God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only begotten son for their salvation. I remember the first time I heard a preacher say, “To understand the meaning of John 3:16,* just substitute your own name for ‘whosoever’ in that verse. He loves you so much that even if you were the only person in the world, he would have died for you.”
The Bible declares that when the Rich Young Ruler appeared before Jesus, that “Jesus, beholding him, loved him.” I think you can say that about anyone. Jesus feels that way about you. He loves you for who you are and for who you can become in Him. You are special, indeed.
* “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV).