Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. (Isaiah 43:1, NIV)
When it comes to finishes, Grace Kim’s extraordinary eagle-birdie-eagle stretch to clinch the Amundi Evian Championship will go down in LPGA major championship lore.
The young Aussie defeated the now No. 1 player in the world, Jeeno Thitikul, last July to win her first LPGA title in historic fashion.
When she steps on the first tee for the rest of her competitive days, she’s likely to be introduced as a major champion. The extra qualifiers that precede her name, however, won’t define her.
“I’m an Evian major champion,” said Kim, “but at the end of the day, I’m just Grace.”
Raised in a Christian home, the first verse her mother started sending her before junior events was Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” The verse can now be found in the bio of her Instagram account.
Kim said her Korean name is the word “grace,” which, biblically speaking, is an undeserved gift from God.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8, NIV)
When JoAnne Carner gets introduced at the U.S. Senior Women’s Open, it’s an event. The LPGA and World Golf Hall of Famer’s list of accomplishments is a marvel, with her eight USGA titles and 43 LPGA victories, including two majors.
What if, instead of four-time major champion and world No. 1, Scottie Scheffler was introduced like this: Now on the tee, from Dallas, Texas, please welcome devoted husband, father, son, brother, and above all, servant of the Lord, Scottie Scheffler.
Most of us don’t have any kind of formal introduction when we show up to work. But even if it’s not spoken aloud, our names come with attachments, things people think of when we’re mentioned.
Do those descriptors reflect our desired priorities?
Even if no one is saying our name aloud, the Lord knows it. Isaiah 43:1 says, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”
The promise gets even better in verses 2-3:
“When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”
PRAYER: Father God, thank you for knowing our names before we were even born. Thank you for forgiving us when our pursuit of “titles” supersedes our walk with you. In you, El Elyon (God Most High), there is no greater name