At the
beginning of the academic year, a school principal in our city pledged to learn
the names of all 600 students in her school. Anyone who doubted her ability or
resolve could look at her track record. During the previous year she had
learned the names of 700 students, and prior to that, 400 children in a
different school. Think of what it must have meant to these students to be
recognized and greeted by name.
The story
of Zacchaeus and Jesus (Luke 19:1-10) contains a surprising element of personal
recognition. As Jesus passed through the city of Jericho, a wealthy tax
collector named Zacchaeus climbed a tree in order to see Him. “When Jesus came
to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, make haste
and come down, for today I must stay at your house’” (v.5). Instead of ignoring
Zacchaeus or saying “Hey, you in the tree,” Jesus called him by name. From that moment on, his life
began to change.
When it seems that no one knows you or cares who you are, remember Jesus. He knows us by name and longs for us to know Him in a personal way. Our Father in heaven sees us through His eyes of love and cares about every detail of our lives.
