Called by name - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2023

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; and no-one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
John 10:27-30.

Called by name
In a small village in the French mountains an aged peasant woman kept an important herd of goats. Every evening, after they had returned to their shed, she sat down on a low chair in the middle of the herd and called the goats one after the other to milk them. She had given each one a name. Hearing their name the animals came over and stood in front of their owner without moving to be milked. Considering the independent character of these creatures, one might be surprised. Moreover, the other breeders in that region assured me that they knew only that unique example.

This true story made me think of the words of Jesus quoted at the head of this leaf. That concerns sheep, admittedly, but the illustration is identical. They are each one known by name by their Master. That is the portion of everyone who has accepted Jesus in his heart as his Saviour and Lord. For Jesus we are not anonymous. He loves us and has given His life for each one of us. He knows us by name. Having risen again, He met Mary Magdalene who had found the tomb empty and was looking for her Lord’s body. She failed to recognise Him and took Him for the gardener; so she asked for His body. His reply was simply “Mary”. Then she recognised Him and was overwhelmed. He entrusted her with a wonderful message: “Go to my brethren, and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God” (John 20:17).

Today's reading: Jeremiah 2:1-37 · Luke 19:39-48