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We\u2019ve all experienced that dreaded moment: you move to greet someone you\u2019ve met before, and your mind scrambles to remember their name\u2026 and you come up empty! Wouldn\u2019t it be nice to avoid this floundering moment? Unlike our limited minds, God knows every person\u2019s name.<\/span><\/p>\n Names are important because they convey identity and meaning.<\/span><\/p>\n Think of the biblical example of David and Goliath. The word <\/span>David<\/span><\/i> may bring to mind a humble shepherd boy who became a mighty king. The name <\/span>Goliath<\/span><\/i> may make you picture oversized armor and an intimidating warrior. All of this is visualized simply by referencing their names and associations with them.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n God\u2019s Word provides two gifts: insights into God\u2019s names and identity and insights into our own identities.<\/span><\/p>\n The Lord declares in the Scriptures: \u201cBut now, this is what the Lord says \u2014 he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: \u2018Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine\u2019\u201d (Isaiah 43:1 NIV).<\/span><\/p>\n Even Jesus received a reminder of who He was before His public ministry on earth began. We see this in the Gospels as Jesus enters the water to be baptized. The heavens part, and God says: \u201c\u2026You are my Son, whom I love; with you, I am well pleased\u201d (Mark 1:11 NIV). If the Father saw the need to acknowledge Jesus\u2019s identity publicly, how much more must we be reminded and affirmed of who we are?<\/span><\/p>\n In our world today, I would argue that more people than ever have lost their identities \u2014 they don\u2019t know who they are, where they come from, and whose they are. Many people don\u2019t know the loving God who created them.<\/span><\/p>\n As a leader of an international ministry called OneHope, I have the opportunity to hear stories about children who are impacted by the truth of God\u2019s Word. Erick is a teenager living in an African village. He was an outcast in his own community. He felt like he would never amount to anything. As an orphan, he had no family to rely on. Then, he received God\u2019s Word and learned there was more to his story. He had destiny and purpose inside of him. Erick is no longer defined by the names his village was calling him, like orphan and outcast. Instead, through God\u2019s Word, he learned his new identity. He\u2019s a child of God. God has always known Erick\u2019s name, but now Erick knows his identity.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The Bible also reveals names for God, which we could spend a lifetime pouring over in Scripture: Savior. Father. Prince of Peace. Creator\u2026and many others. God longs for us to spend time with Him and get to know Him better.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Names carry significance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n One of the greatest gifts we can give to those around us is the gift of reminding them who God is and how He knows them by name.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Read more by Rob Hoskins at\u00a0goodnewsfl.org\/author\/rob-hoskins\/<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n \t\t\t<\/div>\nIdentity<\/b><\/h4>\n
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No matter what you experience in life, the creator of the universe sees and knows you. This is a powerful reminder to ourselves and those around us.<\/span><\/p>\nNames<\/b><\/h4>\n
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<\/a>Rob is President of OneHope<\/a>, a global ministry committed to catalyzing a movement to engage every child in the world with God\u2019s Word. Rob is also Chair of Come Near (He Gets Us.) and a member of the Board of Trustees for the Come and See Foundation (The Chosen). His mission statement in life is to \u201cbuild young leaders and serve great leaders.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n