Greet the friends, each by name.
3 John 1:15c ESV
My college friend Garry was the best natural historian and storyteller I have ever met. He had a steel-trap mind for names, dates, and complex historical events. Plus, he could tell long, long tales of kings and battles – without notes – in a way that that kept his listeners on the edge of their seats, eager to hear more. Truly, God gave Garry an outstanding mind. God gave me a great mind too, but it has a different gifting. My mind excels at remembering things that link together, where knowledge builds on knowledge. My mind is good with math and science. However, I am relatively poor at memorizing “random, unrelated” information like dates, the exports of Peru, and whether the spelling of a particular word adheres to or violates the so-called “rule” of “I before E except after C.“
Unfortunately, for my mind’s use a person’s name is also a “random” bit of knowledge. 99% of the time when I first learn a person’s name there is nothing I can link to, why this particular human should be called “Sarah” or “Frank” or “Elizabeth” or “Thomas.” (Yes I’ve read books about memory and tried the “Me-stir-man’s-eyebrows” method of creating person/name associations, but so far I’m not good with the technique.) Frankly, it is embarrassing to have forgotten someone’s name only seconds after “learning” it.
The last sentence of 3 John stood out to me recently.
Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name.
3 John 1:15 ESV
I felt that God was telling me I should start taking action to overcome my lifelong difficulty of remembering names. Some possibly-relevant Scripture came to mind. First, God is really, really good with names.
4 He determines the number of the stars;
he gives to all of them their names.
5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
his understanding is beyond measure.
Psalms 147:4-5 ESV
Second, to some degree I have access to God’s mind.
12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:12-16 ESV
Third, I acknowledge plenty of weakness in this area, so I’m eligible for God’s imparted power.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV
Fourth, prayer should work because I believe it is God’s will I call His children by their names.
14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
1 John 5:14-15 ESV
7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Matthew 7:7-8 NLT
Fifth, remembering names is part of “all things.”
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13 ESV
I’m adding remembering names to my daily prayers, and hope to see great results soon. 😊
Jesus is coming very, very soon. Be ready!
4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 NKJV
32 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
Matthew 24:32-35 NKJV
34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Luke 21:34-36 NKJV
Has the rapture happened? You can still be saved and go to heaven! --- Are you following God's plan for your life? You should. Your plan is not going to work. It is a really, really bad plan. Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! Jesus is coming. Are you ready to meet Him? Give your life to Jesus Christ. Time is running out.
Lift Up Your Eyes! 