Name Recognition

Growing up in rural Oklahoma has afforded me with a lot of fun opportunities. I have a friend who worked for one of the candidates for state House several summers ago. My friend asked me to help pass out flyers and stickers at the park over the Fourth of July holiday.

We donned our t-shirts with the candidate's name printed across the front and set off for the park. The park was alive with families riding the small train, turtle races, and other Independence Day activities.

We walked the park several times so people could read our shirts. We stuck stickers on as many kids as we could. We offered flyers to every adult not engaged in another activity. Our goal was not to persuade voters to vote for this candidate. On that day, our mission was name recognition.

In rural Oklahoma, the population of many towns is so small that districts are drawn to include several towns. Because of this, the candidate we were working for doesn't live in our town. Before he could persuade people to vote for him, he needed people to recognize his name. Even presidential candidates devote a lot of resources to name recognition.

If you are a Christian, God knows your name. He knows more than your name: "...[T]he very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." (Luke 12:7, NKJV) You do things your entire life to gain the recognition of people--your parents, teachers, friends, co-workers, etc. You do not have to be a better Christian than someone else for God to recognize you. He does recognize you, and He loves you!