It was 1974, and we were listening to hits like Love’s Theme (Barry White and The Love Unlimited Orchestra), Machine Gun (The Commodores), Could It Be Magic (Donna Summers), etc. Songs played an important part in our lives. We’d sit and talk about them, what we thought about them and how they impacted us. We used to go to the local record shop and get 45s (RPM) at 3/$2.00. To think we could get albums (12” LPs) for $1.99-$3.49 each! We definitely had stuff to talk about.
Talking about talk, one hot summer night, our friend, Ray was on the phone with his at-the-time girlfriend, Ms. D. for seven hours! I don’t think it was sweet nothings they were talking about because it sure was something to go that long! That sure was a call. Let’s look at Calls.
In the song, Let’s Just Kiss and Say Goodbye (the Manhattans), a line says, “I called you here today for a bit of bad news…”
And a line in the Christian oldie, Lose My Soul (TobyMac & Kirk Franklin), we hear, “Since I got that call, no more Saul, now I’m Paul.” Meaning, just as Saul, who persecuted Christians was stopped in his tracks by Jesus and transformed to Paul-now an advocate for Christ, we’re changed once we get called by God.
We’ve all received calls in the past; waiting-for calls, unwanted-calls, interrupting-calls, past-due-calls, good-news calls, and bad-news calls, etc. that may have impacted our lives in some ways.
I remember getting a call one time. As soon as I answered, a female began talking and talking. She went on and on. She explained some issues she was facing and I gave her some advice-as best I could. Finally, after about twenty minutes when I told her that she should report her issues, she said, “That’s why I’m calling you!” “Wait a minute, aren’t you Housing (office)?” I told her I wasn’t. That’s when she realized she was speaking to a stranger. She asked why I didn’t stop her. I told her I tried but she kept going. Seems she was determined to speak her piece without letting anything stop her-which she did.
Have you made a call, a special call, as in one to God? He says:
“Call unto Me, and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3).
Did you know God calls us? He has called us in righteousness (Isaiah 42:6). Why? Because He loves you! He’s made a personal invitational call to spend eternity with Him; not a mere seven hours!
In the first episode of The Chosen, Jesus calls Mary by name. She immediately knew that it was God because Jesus had never met her before, yet knew her name. God knows you better than you know yourself. He knows your name. When you hear His voice, do not harden your heart (Hebrews 3:7,8)! And like Samuel, (1 Samuel 3:9) answer the call!
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name; you are Mine” (Isaiah 43:1)!
Don’t put Him on hold!
Answer Now!
Sam