One atomic habit makes a difference for all of your results.
Presence. And nothing enhances your presence like addressing others by their name.
Jesus did this. He used atomic habits.
Their impact left . . .
- lawyers speechless
- crowds astonished
- soldiers kneeling
It’s not just the way he looked at you. It’s the way he said your name.
Use names in conversation
Using a person’s name steadily empowers them which empowers you.
Jesus did this with strangers as well as friends and family.
An example is Zacchaeus, a tax collector.
Nobody in town liked him. He didn’t like himself probably.
He had a hell of an existence because he hurt people.
But, he heard about this man, Jesus, and wanted to investigate.
He may have heard that Matthew, one of his buddies, was a follower.
Tax collectors were a tight-knit bunch because they didn’t have many friends.
Use names to impact people
The following is the remarkable style Jesus used for impact.
When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:1-10)
Nothing communicates love, care and interest like speaking names in conversation.
Jesus looked folks in the eye and used first names often.
And for Zacchaeus, the impact was big because he quickly let go of his greed.
He let go because no one ever valued him like this before.
Use names to say you care
All Zacchaeus expected as a tax collector was more hell on his road to profits.
After all, that’s what strangers do to each other on highways isn’t it?
- Cut each other off
- Deliver a sign
- Honk
And that’s what Zacchaeus is expecting on this highway from Jericho to Jerusalem. Conflict.
But, Jesus didn’t come to give anybody hell. In fact he came to save everybody from it.
People couldn’t believe the love and care in a one-on-one encounter with him.
Use this atomic habit daily
The distinguishing feature of Christianity and Judaism is God seeking us.
Since the beginning, God looks for us, calls out to us.
That’s not the case with other religions.
They are versions of men and women looking for God.
“Zacchaeus, come down immediately, I must stay at your house today.”
Use a person’s name like Jesus did.
Set them free.
Watch the impact.
Good thoughts.
Thank you Richard.