At the speaking of our name …

“But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice … Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep ... I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture… I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly… I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep … I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.” (Selected Verses, John 10, NASB).

At the speaking of our name, we will usually turn with attentive interest. If the person speaking our name is someone connected by relationship, they will have a distinctive way of speaking our name. We instantly recognize the subtle manner and tender tone they use when they are speaking to us. Since their relationship with us is of importance and value to us; we will usually be alertly focused on them as they speak our name and begin to communicate with us.

We have all had our name spoken out in other ways, as well. We have all felt the sting of hearing our name used when we were being rebuked or chastised. We have all heard our name used sharply when someone is angry at us and most of us have heard overheard our name disrespected through mocking forms of intentional disregard. On the other hand, we all might have had the privilege of hearing our name spoken in connection with the formal or informal recognition or appreciation of our contributions, efforts and character.

Of all the occasions where our name is spoken, there is one place and one relationship where our name is spoken that is always beyond comparison with any other occasion. There is nothing so tender or as soothing to our very soul as when our gracious and loving “Good Shepherd” speaks our name. At His speaking of our name, we can always turn and find the same caring love beckoning us to come to Him. At His speaking of our name, we know we can follow our Shepherd with complete trust. At His speaking of our name, we know He will take us to choice places of spiritual nourishment. At His speaking of our name, we know we are forever saved by His intentional and purposeful giving of His life for us. At His speaking of our name, we know we blessed and will be blessed by His grace. At His speaking of our name, we will always be watched over in all the days of lives.

Beyond all the fond and attentive care our Shepherd and Savior will lavish on us as His precious Children and “Sheep of His Pasture” and the soulfully connected affectionate way He has called us by name during our time on earth, will be the moment He speaks our name as He welcomes us to the eternal place He has prepared for us. At this eternal juncture of the speaking of our name … we will experience something beyond anything we can imagine, as we will hear our name spoken for the first time as will be spoken tenderly by our Lord for all eternity. Praise and thanks be to Jesus Christ our Lord, for the tender way He speaks our name as cares for us throughout all our days and for the indescribable joy we will find as He speaks our name throughout all of eternity.

Suggested Reading … John 10