“The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice.” (John 10:3-4 NLT)
Celebrities often have stage names that are different from their original names. The actress, Emma Stone, was born Emily Stone. Her first stage name was Riley Stone. However, she never responded to it, so she changed it again--this time to Emma which was more similar to her given name. Those closest to her use yet another nickname which she prefers to keep private.
The world is like a stage. When we are born, our parents give us a name. As we grow up, the surrounding culture brands us with an identity. Our soul remains stuck in these restrictive costumes which hide our true selves. We play roles that fit societal expectations, forgetting who we are.
The Savior opens the gate to each captive soul. How can we recognize His voice? He calls us by our true identity. This is an intimate name; we respond when we hear it. He knows who we were created to be. He reminds us that we are part of His Spirit. The Lord walks ahead of us. We follow where He leads, because His voice resonates deep within our soul.
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