I don’t know your name… Sorry!

 

The person in this photo has a name. I don’t know it. Does anyone?

I have become a professional at talking to someone without using their name. Someone comes up to me at Walmart. They know me and I know them, but usually can’t remember their name. Sometimes I can figure out who they are in the conversation. Most of the time I just act like I remember. It is a skill. LOL! My Dad had a mind to remember people’s names. He could move to a new congregation and it seemed like he would know their names immediately. I might have to be introduced to someone three or four times, or more, before I remember. So, if I only meet you once or twice, or the time between meetings is a long time, I might never remember. That is such a terrible thing for a pastor. 

Jesus knew everyone’s name (sometimes even before he met them)! LOL. Listen to what it says in John 10:

“But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his won sheep by name and leads them out.” (John 10:2-3)

People love it when you remember your name. A friend told me she had some regular interaction with a homeless man here in Florida. When she saw him and called him by name, he told her that no one ever called him by name. Isn’t that sad? Not having anyone know you by name is so depressing. Because that leads to thoughts that no one cares and that hopelessness feeds upon itself. 

Not that I am famous, but people know who I am. More importantly, Jesus knows me. I am so thankful to be one of his sheep. God has spoken to me and I recognize his voice and when I speak to him in prayer, I get a beautiful sense of belonging to the God of the universe. 

In John 10 it talks about the thief:

“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.” (John 10:10)

He doesn’t care about you. He just wants to wreak havoc in your life. He speaks lies, twists the word of God and leads us to destruction. He wants people to feel hopeless. I need to do a better job getting to know and remembering peoples names. Just that simple act honors them like Jesus would honor them. I was proud of myself this week when working at a shelter here in Sarasota. I met a young man, a volunteer on Monday. I made a point to remember his name. When we met again on Thursday, I called him by name and it caught his attention. I could see it physically lift his spirits. We need to care enough about people to know their name.

The Good Shepherd is here to give you a rich and satisfying life, even through the times of worldly pain and sorrow. Get to know the voice of the one who formed you. Know the name of Jesus, call upon that name.

“Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefor, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:6-11)

The name of Jesus is above every other name, but he still humbles himself to know YOUR name. We praise God for that kind of love and honor. Thank you Lord!