John 10: You are Significant

"The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out." (10:4)

"I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." (10:11)

So often we feel insignificant.  Often you are identified just as a number, sometimes even "called by a number".

• The government calls you by your Social Security number.
• The university calls you by your Student ID number.
• The church counts you as 1 of xxx who attended church.
• In your family you are the "3rd of five".

God is different.  He knows everyone of His Sheep by NAME.  The individuality of each believer is desperately important to God.  If you were the only one to have lived-- Jesus would have died on the cross for you.  Romans 5:6 says Christ died for the ungodly.  John 10:15, "...I lay down my life for my sheep."  Brother and sister in Christ this is you and me.

Are feeling insignificant?  Are you thinking you are the least?  Are you feeling undeserving? unlovable? No matter how you feel, Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd.  I know my own..." (v14) He knows you and knows you and knows you wander and stray and struggle with such thoughts.  He knows you often like sheep are prone to go your own way...

So Listen to Him, get in hearing distance of Him who doesn't call you by number, but calls you by NAME and KNOWS you.  "My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they will never perish and now one will snatch them out of my hand." (10:27-28). 

• You are significant to God.
• You are known by Name. 
• You are Known by God.
• You are His Sheep.