Exodus 33:17b
...I am pleased with you and I know you by name.

Sometimes things just happen. We wake up one day and realize that something fundamental has changed and, even though we may work to set things straight, they are never the same. As Exhibit #1, I give you my name change.

My parents named me Paul. Paul Edward Jenkins, to be exact. I have, in my storied career in youth ministry, gone by Paul, Pastor Paul, PP, Bishop Jenkins, Hey, You!, Dude, and, Uhhhhhh. In my house I have been known to hear Dad, Daddy, Daddy-O, and Honey. I may be called a lot of different things, but I have only one name and it isn't Lou.

We joke in our house about this quite often, because Sydney sometimes says her "Ys" like "Ls" and so she calls me Lou a lot. "I love Lou," she'll say. Or if I crack a joke, she'll say "Lou punny" (yes, sometimes her "Fs" become "Ps"). If she wants me to snuggle with her when I tuck her in bed, she'll ask Lou to do it. "Lou sleep with me for six minutes?" I'll just smile at her and tell her, "My name's not Lou!" Of course, she'll laugh and tell Lou that he's punny and then the whole thing starts again. I know, it's real captivating stuff!

You know, names are important to God. He told Moses in our passage that He knew him by name. He told Cyru in Isaiah 45:4 that he called him by name even though Cyrus didn't acknowledge Him. And it should be no surprise that John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, makes sure to mention that names matter. In John 10:3, he remembered that Jesus said He calls His sheep out by name, and that had such an impression on John that he went on to instruct the believers in 3 John 14 that they should "greet the friends there by name."

Here's the point. Don't ever forget who you are. You are known by God and you are loved by God. He calls you by name! Having been known and loved at that level, you are now free to pour into those around you! Say their names! Look in their eyes! Everyone wants somebody to know them, and you - having been known by God - can share the good news with them that, in fact, somebody does!

Do it today. Look a friend, a co-worker, a teacher, or a student in the eye and tell them...

"Jesus loves Lou."