To Call part 3
It might seem a little bit tricky. Because to me "calling on the Lord" means receiving the gift you've been given. And a very powerful way to do that is through the waters of baptism. Making that decision and that statement to enter into the covenant that God made with Himself. But I also think we can "call on the Lord and BE saved" in the midst of any particular circumstance. Kind of like that song, "Jesus, Take the Wheel." When things start spinning out of control we can give up our sense of control and let God take over. In other words, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16). And it always struck me as a little bit funny that we spend so much time and effort looking for things in all the wrong places. Hebrews says it beautifully. Come to the throne of grace to find grace. Where else could you find it? Noah found it in the eyes of the Lord, because He was looking God in the face. That's what we do when we look in the mirror. Because He lives in us. Grace lives in us! So calling on the Lord and being saved isn't so much "He's over there and I need Him over here." It's not about GETTING anything--including getting saved--it's about BEING something. Being what we already are. It's about letting what's already inside fill us to overflowing so it's gets outside. Being planted on the Rock and not letting anything shake us. Knowing who we are and being who we are. No matter what. Boldly. Jesus didn't do things with a spirit of fear. He never worried about if His Daddy would back Him up. In fact, when He was praying out loud He said, "You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me" (John 11:42). He wasn't asking in the HOPE that God would answer. He was so secure in His identity, and He was so rooted and grounded in love, that He knew whatever He asked, His Daddy would do. He was about His Father's buisness. And, again to me, that's what calling on the Lord is all about. Being about His buisness. Living a Christ-centered life. Which, of course, means living a people-centered life. Because Jesus also said whatever you do to the least of them you do unto Him. Right? So we focus on God by focusing on people. We love God by loving people. And when we find ourselves in situations that we can't handle (let's be honest, that's all situations isn't it?) we can call on Him. Call on what's inside. And then WE don't have to handle it because HE is handling it in us, and through us, and as us. I don't think calling on the Lord is about saying the secret password and locking up our seat in the afterlife. I think it's about calling on His strength (which is made perfect in our weakness) and living His life by letting Him live His own life in us, and through us, and as us. I think calling on Him is finding grace at the throne of grace to help in times of need. And I think our time of need... is all the time. Not a "break glass in case of emergency" but an attitude of gratitude. A lifestyle of "calling" on Him and BEING saved!