Calling Upon the Lord

by Bud Lambert

Growing up, it always seemed like my brother, Carter, and I were always getting into some kind of trouble. One evening just before dark, Carter and I were playing in the woods across the creek in back of our house. Those woods were our "special" place we could go and pretend to be anything we wanted - cowboys, explorers, spies, etc. This particular evening we were just being little boys, seeing who could climb the highest in a big sweetgum tree. On our way down the tree, Carter got his foot hung in the fork of a limb. It was stuck real good. We tried everything we could think of to get it out, but nothing worked. All the while, it was getting darker and darker. And the darker it got, the more panicked we got. Finally, we realized we had to have some help. So, we started hollerin' for dad. "Dad, help! Help! D-A-D!" Somehow he heard us; came running to where we were; climbed up the tree to Carter; and using his wisdom as a parent, untied Carter's shoe, told Carter to slip his foot out of the shoe, and then pulled the shoe free. Carter and I called on the name of Dad.
God saves those who call on His name. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" ( Romans 10:13).
James puts it this way: "God resisteth the proud. but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil. and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God. and he will draw nigh to vall. Cleanse your hands. ye sinners; and purify your hearts. ye double minded. Be afflicted, and /IIourn. and weep. let your laughter he' turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up" ( James 4:6-10)
Jesus says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled" ( Matthew 5:3-6).
Calling on the name of the Lord means we must (1). realize that we're stuck, (2). realize that we need help, (3). believe
that God is the only one who can save us, and (4). listen to what He says to do and do it.
Are you calling upon the name of the Lord?

• Be Warmed and Be Filled -Dec 05, 2004