Disclaimer: The sharing is pure from my personal view; therefore, please don’t take it to be absolute. Thanks.
In a theological seminary, a professor was giving a final exam to his students in a class. He stated that the test is in two parts. The first part has 10 questions, which attributes to 50% of its grade and the 2nd part is another 50% with only one question. Most students breezed through the first part of the questions and they were eager to work on the second part. The question in the second part is “Can you name the cleaning lady you ran into everyday, in the hallway?” Most of the students were stunned and did not know how to answer the question.
After the test, the students complained, “Professor, since we are in a theology class, why the name of a cleaning lady is important to our grade?” “Since you are all going to be in a ministry of touching people’s soul; don’t you think people’s name is important? Besides, how Jesus care about those who are weak and alienated should set a good example for you, isn’t it?” the professor responded.
This is a story that I heard from a radio broadcast recently. It makes me wonder: Am I like those seminary students – focus on personal gain than care about other people? The other day, my wife told me “so and so” is having a family problem, “so and so” is not feeling well, so she needs to call them to find out. I said, “I don’t remember them”. “You only focus on your work, no wonder you don’t remember”, my wife responded. I was speechless. I know I could make excuses and fault it to be my age problem, but I couldn’t do that every time.
A person’s name usually represents a special meaning to him or her. When Moses met God on the mountain Horeb, God called him, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” Moses was ready to listen to God’s instruction. God then instructed him, “I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:10). We can see that God’s calling to Moses is very personal and direct. He knows Moses name and He knows him inside out – even when Moses was not sure in following His instruction and saying, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God was patient and clear. He answered Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ (Exodus 3:14)”
Apart from ‘I am’, there are more than 200 names and titles in the Bible used to represent God. For example,
The LORD is Peace, (Jehovah-Shalom, Yahweh-Shalom)
The LORD is There (Jehovah-Shammah, Yahweh-Shammah)
The LORD of Hosts (Jehovah-Sabaoth, Yahweh-Sabaoth)
The LORD Our Banner (Yahweh-nissi, Yahweh-nissi)
The LORD Our Righteousness (Jehovah-Tsidkenu, Yahweh-Tsidkenu)
The LORD who sanctifies you (Jehovah-M’Kaddesh, Yahweh-M’Kaddesh)
The LORD who provides (Jehovah-jireh, Yahweh-yir’eh)
My dear brothers and sisters, God’s name is what we need to remember in our heart all the times. His name is beautiful than any other name. Next time when you meet someone, please don’t forget to ask his / her name and introduce God’s beautiful name to him / her. May God bless your effort.