Known by Name

John 10:1-4 ¶ “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. “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.

When I first read this verse I thought to myself it was simply describing how close a relationship Jesus has with us.  This is what the verse is about, but then I asked myself how often does a shepherd know each of his sheep by name and call to each one specifically when it is time to head out.  This kind of care and personal attention is more amazing to me than the simple observation that God leads us.