MOMENT OF RECOGNITION

MOMENT OF RECOGNITION

The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  John 10:3

In every love story, there is a moment of recognition where one soul sees into the soul of another and finds a place to rest and call home.  For many, it can be on the very first meeting.  A look, something said, the sound of a voice, it’s familiar and the stirring is deeply felt. It was that way for Jesus and many of His followers.  Someone would hear His call and leave everything to follow Him.  Like all love stories, these moments are personal, characterized by tenderness.

Matthew was a tax collector.  While in the middle of a work day, sitting at a tax booth, he looked up to see Jesus stop in front of him.  He said, “Follow me!”  Matthew got up from the table and never looked back.  There was instant recognition of the shepherd’s voice.

On another occasion, Jesus walked down a road and called up to a man in the tree.  He called this lone sheep by name.  Zacchaeus.  The surprised man in the tree responded instantly and received Jesus joyfully into his home.

Jesus also went in search of certain sheep.  One day, He went into Galilee to find a man named Philip.  The call was the same, as was the result.  “Follow me,” Jesus said.  And he did.

Mary, at the tomb of Jesus, didn’t recognize Jesus until He called her by name.  “Mary.”  Her instant response was, “Rabboni.”

When my last breath is drawn on this earth and I open my eyes on the shores of heaven, the thing I look forward to most is hearing Jesus welcome me home – by name.  None will have said it quite like him.

Your voice can be heard in Scripture, deep in my spirit in prayer, in the sounds of nature.  Oh Lord, even now, your voice fills my soul with rest and assurance.  I am yours.  Amen