NAMES AND NUMBERS

One of my multitude of tasks as a Human Resource officer (Adjutant General Corps) in the Army is personnel accountability and strength reporting (PASR). The difference in PA and SR is the title of this thought: names and numbers. For instance, say we have 4000 slots to fill in a Brigade. I don’t really care who the person is as long as someone fills the spot: that's strength reporting. But if the commander wants a particular person for a specific position because he knows that person will accomplish the mission, he gives me a name: that's personnel accountability (kind of).

For some people, church is about the numbers, because statics can be quantified and therefore substantiated. 500 attenders, 32 gave their lives to the Lord, 20% tithe regularly, 97 are under 30, 70% are married, and 15 lead Bible studies. But what we don't list is their names. We are just looking to fill seats and anyone will do. But thank God that He doesn’t look at us that way.

“I have called you by name- you are mine… I will give up whole nations to save your life, because you are precious to me and because I love you and give you honor” (Isa 43:1,4). God knows whom He wants in what position. He has called me by name and considers me more important than any number of people whose multitude would amass a nation. Remember this: nowhere in His word does God ever keep statistics. Rather, Jesus calls His disciples by name and Paul writes to specific friends like Timothy and Titus. Numbers are important to people but names are important to God.