“…To Him (the shepherd) the porter openeth, and the sheep hear His voice, and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.” John 10:3
One of the most remarkable aspects of coming to know Christ is the personal attention and concern that He has with every one that belongs to Him. We see this in the relationship between the sheperd and his sheep. When looking at the shepherd contrasted with the sheep, the difference between them is enormous. The shepherd is so much more intelligent than the sheep, wise in his perception of matters pertaining to the sheep, and yet, committed to the well-being of the sheep in a way that the sheep could never grasp, or understand. One of the most wonderful actions by the shepherd concerning his sheep is his call. That which we see immediately about this call is that it is very personal, very clear, and convincing. The Lord Jesus says that those sheep that belong to Him, when He calls them, He calls them by their names. He does not call them with some other person’s name. Each sheep has a name given to him by the shepherd. Thus, the individual attention that he gives to the needs of the sheep is very specific, his whole heart being directed to the care of the sheep.
Scripture tells us that, after Moses fled from Pharaoh, he came to live with the family of the priest of Midian. While living in the wilderness for a number of years, marrying and having two sons, Moses became a shepherd of sheep. He cared for the sheep of his father in law, Jethro, one day leading them to the “backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.” (Ex. 3:1) It is there that God revealed Himself to Moses, and called his name twice out of a burning bush. This is remarkable, for we have the eternal God choosing to speak to a very small man, calling him twice by his name. His call was so clear and convincing, that Moses responded, though he did not see anyone, by saying, “Here am I.” The call had come with great simplicity and power. How? By God’s Spirit, convincing him.
When Saul of Tarsus was on his way to Damascus with letters to persecute Christians, the Lord Jesus revealed Himself to him by the shining of a bright light that blinded him, causing him to fall to the ground. It is then that the Lord speaks Saul’s name, and this, twice: “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” (Acts 9:4) Note that the Lord spoke very clearly, convincingly to Saul, and this in such a manner that Saul had no doubt that he was being addressed. As was the case with Moses, the Lord identified Himself very clearly to Saul. To Moses He said, “I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” (Ex. 3:6) To Saul, the Lord would say, “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.” (Acts 9:5) Both men were addressed clearly, concisely, convincingly, not only by the calling of their names twice, but by the revelation of God, of Christ to their hearts.
When Samuel was just a very young boy, serving God in the temple, Scripture tells us that the Lord spoke to him. “The Lord called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.” (1 Samuel 3:4) It must have been very quiet in the temple where Samuel slept, for the Lord initially only called his name once. But once was enough, for Samuel understood that someone clearly called his name. After Eli told Samuel to return to the place where he slept, the Lord spoke to him another time, calling him by his name. When God spoke to Samuel a third time, Eli understood that God was speaking to Samuel, and told him to respond to the Lord by saying: “Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.” (3:9) God’s call, whether to a man in the wilderness, a persecutor of believers, or to a child, is always clear.
Dear Father, Call us convincingly today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.