When I first came to the United States as a twelve year old, unable to speak English, one of the first game I learned to play in the school yard was kick ball. Each team leader would take turn calling out names of kids they wanted on their team. New to the game & not knowing the rules, I was always the last to be picked. On top of that no one knew how to say my Chinese name. I’d wait & wait for my name to be called. Sometimes I would finally hear my mispronounced name called. Other times, i would just be the odd person left and default into one of the teams. I hated that experience.

Mark 3:13 tells us that “Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted…”

Do I believe He invites me to be with Him? Do I believe that Jesus invites me by name? Do I believe that it was not an accident that I was called? It wasn’t a mispronunciation. He named me and called me. He WANTED me to be with Him. :) This is so much better than the school yard.