God Knows His People
Nehemiah 7:5 Just as every captive that returned back to Jerusalem, Jesus knows each of His children by name.
7/17/20261 min read
Then my God put it into my heart to gather the nobles, the rulers, and the people, that they might be registered by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of those who had come up in the first return, and found written in it: Nehemiah 7:5 (NKJV)
After the last door was hung, God put it in Nehemiah's heart to gather all those that returned from captivity and register them by genealogy. By counting the people, the rebuilding of Jerusalem shifted from the physical restoration of the wall to organizing and restoring their identity. The genealogical register preserved the names of those who had returned with Zerubbabel and others, providing a historical and genealogical record for future generations and served to trace the lineage of Israel, which was significant for understanding the nation’s heritage and, ultimately, the Messiah’s descent.
When we become believers, we are counted and called by name. John 10:3 says, "The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out." Jesus is the Good Shepard who opens the gate and calls for us believers to recognize and respond to His voice. It is important for us to cultivate a personal relationship with Jesus to hear and respond to His guidance amidst other influences reflecting the spiritual discernment required to follow Him. When we accepted Christ, the Good Shepherd, He called us by name and provided protection, provision, and the promise of life under His care.
Choose to listen to the call of the Good Shepard and help build His kingdom. When Jesus calls your name, it is an invitation to recognize His presence in your life, embrace your identity as His beloved child, respond in faith, worship, and service, and trust that He knows your struggles and guides you personally. Respond to His voice, and bring others to Christ, following the guidance of the Holy Spirit that lives within you, helping build His flock. Jesus knows you name and He calls you to do HIs good works.