Although I love talking to my friends in any form including the telephone, I actually avoid talking on the contraption any other time. It isn’t my favorite thing to do; so often I procrastinate in getting done the tasks that involve the phone. Still, it is a convenient device to have in one’s home, and when you go without it for a few days you realize just how important it is.
We call our friends to talk to them, call buddies to arrange a time to get together, call our kids to come to supper, call hello to friends and neighbours, call out cheers to players on teams, phone call to arrange things, ask for help, find out information, order food, make connections, order supplies and on and on. Sometimes there are even emergency phone calls in the middle of the night or unexpected calls from friends who just want to know you are all right.
All these calls we do in our lives are important so we make sure to get them done. But… do we remember to call on the Lord?
Where the word call is used in the scriptures, it means a mix of cry unto, invoke (to address in prayer; to call on for assistance and protection-Webster), address, call on and invite. Once we have ‘called’ on the Lord to be saved (Acts ) it doesn’t end there. We are supposed to call on Him for help (2 Sam. 22:4), call for His forgiveness and mercy (Ps. 86:5), and call when we’re in trouble. (Ps. 86:7)
So, what are the benefits to calling on the Lord? He will hear the godly (Ps. 4:3), He will answer us (Ps. 86:7), He will be with us in trouble, deliver us and honour us (Ps. 91:15), He will show us great and might things which we don’t know. (Jer. 33:3). Given all that I heartily agree with the Bible when it says, “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:” (Is. 55:6)
The great thing is the Lord wants to call us back. He calls us to salvation (Acts ), then He calls us friends. (John 15:15) He spoke to Adam and Eve in the garden (Gen. 3:8 on) and made contact with Samuel as a boy (1 Sam. 3:8-14). Not much has changed today; He still wants to talk to us. Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” (John ) As His sheep, we need to know His voice above others or we may end up following the butcher instead of our Shepherd. Call upon Him, and then listen as He responds.
So, lets all ‘pick up the phone’ and talk to the Lord today.