Tim’s Daily Bread Devotional 1.25.22

By January 25, 2022Daily Bread

Good morning!

I hope this day finds you and your family well. I invite you to take a few moments with me to read and reflect upon today’s scripture selection — and to carry these thoughts with you into your day.

Today’s Scripture: Isaiah 43:1-7

But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I give Egypt as your ransom,
Ethiopia[a] and Seba in exchange for you.
Because you are precious in my sight,
and honored, and I love you,
I give people in return for you,
nations in exchange for your life.
Do not fear, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east,
and from the west I will gather you;
I will say to the north, “Give them up,”
and to the south, “Do not withhold;
bring my sons from far away
and my daughters from the end of the earth—
everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”

Tim’s Devotional Reflection for Today

Our names are personal. They are extensions of ourselves. They not only identify us to others, but they take on our own identity and we wrap ourselves in them.

Of all the words we hear spoken in love or rejection, in support or in opposition, in joy or in sorrow, in kindness or in bitterness, none has the power of our name.

Think about it.

To hear, “I’m so glad to see you!” spoken with your name has more power than the sentiment alone. To hear, “Oh, I have missed you so much!” spoken with your name has more power than the words alone.

And our name sounds especially sweet on the lips of someone who loves us. In the these words from Isaiah, God is speaking comfort to God’s people.  The word of the Lord for the people is “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” 

This understanding of God is that God is personal. In the gospel of John, Jesus speaks in that personal way, as well.  In describing a good shepherd Jesus points out that the sheep know his voice and the shepherd knows the sheep by name.  Then, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.”  (John 10:14)

Here’s the good news:  God knows you.  God loves you.  God is always present with you — no matter what you’re facing.

Hymn Suggestion

“How Firm a Foundation”

How firm a foundation, you saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in his excellent Word!
What more can he say than to you he has said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

“Fear not, I am with you, O be not dismayed,
for I am your God and will still give you aid;
I’ll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand,
upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

“When through the deep waters I call you to go,
the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow,
for I will be with you, your troubles to bless,
and sanctify to you your deepest distress.

“When through fiery trials your pathway shall lie,
my grace all sufficient shall be your supply;
the flames will not hurt you; I only design
your dross to consume and your gold to refine.

“The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose
I will not, I will not, desert to its foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!”

Thank you for sharing this moment of your day with me, with God, and with these reflections on a portion of scripture.  I hope you will carry these with you throughout your day and night.

Grace and Peace,


Dr. Tim Bruster
Senior Pastor