John 10:26-30 English Standard Version

26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

The Lamb of God becomes the shepherd.

This is a hard saying if you are not called.

• Isaiah 43:1 But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.
• Isaiah 43:7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

Revelation 13:8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.

It is sad to see the truth expressed alongside an extreme negative. The “it” that is worshipped here in 13:8 is the beast. Those that worship the beast will not find their names written in the book of life of the Lamb of God.

Those names that are included in that book can take comfort in this one issue; the book is sealed and no one can take your name out of the book. No one but the Lamb can open that book and read those names.

Revelation 5:5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Those descriptions are tied to the lineage and identity of Jesus of Nazareth, the Lamb of God.

Reading and believing what is written about Jesus from the very foundations of the world will help us to understand that the only way we can hear Him calling us is by faith.

Don’t you want to hear Him calling you by name?