God Knows Your Name!

One of the biggest challenges of coming into a new church is getting to know a whole new group of people by their names.  It’s not that the names themselves are so difficult or unfamiliar (although at times that can be the case). It is about being able to put a person’s name with their face.  It is about getting to know people by their name; being able to call people by name. 

Most people say, “I’m really bad with names,” or, “I never forget a face but I can’t remember names.”  I think that’s the case for most of us. It probably has to do with how our brains work.  Learning names seems to take a lot more work and repetition.  For me, I find it most difficult to learn the names of people I only see once in a while—e.g. Sunday morning as they leave the sanctuary with the crowd. I do better with the people I see a couple of times per week or with whom I have repeated contact.  Thankfully, there are some people who have aided me by coming up to me and reminding me of their name. I really do appreciate the help.

I believe learning people’s names is important.  It’s a way to connect with people on a more personal level. It means something to be able to greet someone by name rather than in some generic way.  Speaking each other’s names takes us to new level of relationship; it takes us beyond being mere faces in a crowd. Thus, it’s important for us to learn the names of those around us—neighbors, co-workers, even the people with whom we do business on a regular basis.  I believe it’s especially important for me as a pastor to learn people’s names.

I’m glad to read in the Bible that God knows us by name.  The prophet Isaiah wrote these words: “But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” And, “I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.” ((Isaiah 43:1; 45:3 – NIV, emphasis mine)

God reaches out to us as his people—people whom he knows not from a distance, but up close and personal. We are not passing acquaintances with God.  Rather, we are known by him; known by our names.  Thus, as we come to God today, we come to him not as strangers; not as those who are merely part of the crowd; not as those whom he knows in some generic way. Rather, we come to him as those whom he knows by name! 

Be encouraged today: God knows your name! 

Have a great day!

Pastor Tim Harris