Known By Name

Our names are often one of the first things we give when we meet someone. In the English grammar world, names are a proper noun, but in essence they can be thought of as an adjective or descriptive word because they represent to us who that person is.

Pretend with me a personality dictionary of everyone existed (and one may exist in our minds). It would give a detailed characterization of what we think of and know about a person.

For example:

Leslie: forty-something years old, wife to Wade, mother to Elizabeth and Andrew, likes to cook, likes to keep a clean house, likes to craft, etc.

If you personally know me, then a memory and maybe mental images of me being a goofball may be included in the entry for my name. 😉

The bad thing is sometimes what people think about us is not entirely true. In fact, it could be completely false. Some of you may be able to think of someone who has a wrong impression of you or who has spread a lie about you or something similar.

In kind, you may have the same wrong definition for someone in your personality dictionary. They may have never spoken to you, therefore, you have labeled them as snobby or cocky, when in reality, they may be shy or introverted and struggle with speaking with those they don’t know.

Another example – maybe someone you know is so loud and borderline obnoxious. You decide they like to be seen and heard so much that they must be conceited. In reality, they may secretly be very insecure. The loud behavior is them trying to get validation and attention.

The good and the bad of it is that God knows ALL of our names and He is the only One who can define us to a T. God knows us better than we do.

While we won’t admit certain weaknesses or faults, He knows them for what they are. The Bible tells us in Luke 12:7, “But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”

While this may make some uncomfortable, it gives me complete peace and freedom. I can go to the Lord in all my guilt and sin and weakness and be REAL. You know why? Because I know despite myself, He loves me anyway. He will show me mercy. He will forgive me. He will convict me if/when I fall again.

Application

• Back to the beginning and what we may have “written” in our personality dictionaries of others – let us make sure we are careful about how we categorize or label others. We don’t always know the full story. And even if they have truly wronged us or others, let us extend grace and mercy (Matthew 18:21-22).
• Now to how our righteous, loving, merciful God “knows our name” – Don’t let that fact make you shrink in fear. Take advantage of it. Ask God to show you your weaknesses, if you have unknown sin in your life, how you can become a better Christian, etc. Thank Him for loving you in spite of your sin.

Another comforting thing about our omniscient (all-knowing) God is that even though He knows all the yuck of our lives, in His “personality dictionary,” He doesn’t have any lies about us. And the best part? He knows our potentiality if we live for Him. He can foresee the blessed future we can have serving Him. That is something to get you excited! 💕

Below is the song the excerpt above is taken from. Listen to it and be blessed to know you are known by name.