He Knows Your Name

Gold Name

During Operation Desert Storm, I commanded a Company of Paratroopers in the 82nd Airborne Division and my Battle Buddy was First Sergeant (1SG) Bobby “Airborne” Bell. His name and reputation were solid gold throughout the division. At that point in my career that spanned 3 decades, I was 27 years old. 1SG Bell was in his forties and had served in the Division for most of his career. He was hard as nails and could whip anyone’s butt in the company. He was man’s man for sure, but that is not what defined him or made him the most effective leader I had ever witnessed. One word described him and that word was love.

First Sergeant (1SG) Bell

1SG Bell loved his Soldiers and would have given his life for any of them. He loved them enough to train them harder than some thought was humanly possible. He disciplined, challenged, admonished, encouraged, motivated, and held his Soldiers accountable. With attachments, the Company consisted of 270 paratroopers. The evening before we prepared to attack across the Saudi Arabia / Iraq border, 1SG Bell and I were reviewing our mission and accounting for each Soldier. Some of these Soldiers were newly assigned to the Company within days of the attack. As we went through the battle rosters, I realized that 1SG Bell knew each Soldier’s first name. These Paratroopers were 1SG Bell’s Soldiers and he knew them personally.

Good Shepherd

1SG Bell’s love for his Soldiers serves as a word picture of God’s love for me and all of His “Soldiers”…that includes you and every human being. God loves you and he wants an intimate and personal relationship with you. He knows your name. The Bible says, "I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.”

Jesus Knows Your Name

Jesus is your good shepherd. He knows your name. He loved you enough to die a horrible slow death by crucifixion on a rugged cross. Why did He die for you and me. He gave His life as a sacrifice, a payment, a substitution for the penalty of our sin. His death paid the price for every sin we have committed and every sin we will commit. All who accept Jesus as Lord are forgiven and will spend eternity with Him in Heaven. He knows your name.

"I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:14-15

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. Isaiah 43:1