Tag: call on God
Day 5–“Because He Knows My Name”
Scripture reading for May 29: Psalm 91:14-16“”Because he holds fast to Me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows My Name. When He calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.””
Up to this point in the psalm, which was a song sung by God’s people in worship, the psalmist has been declaring his personal knowledge of God’s Name and his steadfast trust in God Most High as His Almighty, Refuge, and Fortress. The people have answered with the benefits of trusting God and how God would bless and protect them. But now God, Himself, boldly declares His will and plans to reveal to the people eternal life and full salvation. This is God’s sovereign decree, bringing this worship song to an amazing climax.
Because His people have a relationship with God Almighty, they cling to Him in love and respect. They call out to Him when in need or trouble. They invoke His Name, revealing their love and faith, honoring Him. God promises He will deliver him who holds fast to Him in love. Note the personal nature of this promise–made to the individual in relationship, but implied to all who hold relationship in love. God promises He will answer him when called upon. He promises His presence with him in any trouble and promises rescue and honor to the trusting one. His final promise is a ‘long life’ that satisfies. This surely isn’t just for our earthly life alone, but implies eternal life which is the essence of full salvation! All God’s “I will” statements are directed at the person who is holding fast in love to God’s Name.
The logical application for all individuals is to say ‘Amen!’ to God’s promises and claim them confidently in loving trust. First responders who know God’s Names, can work without fear. Even if life presently is less than satisfying, we trust God’s promise to fully satisfy us with answers, protection, rescue and honor in the end.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your divine and precious promises which give us faith and eternal hope as we await our full salvation. We love You and call on You in worship and adoration! Amen.
Week 4–Day 1–911–God’s Emergency Number
Scripture reading for January 19: “. . . and call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you shall glorify Me.”
In our country we use an emergency number that is easy for most people to remember: ‘911.’ When an accident happens or an emergency requires help from first responders, anyone with a phone can simply dial ‘911’ and an operator from the local emergency response center will take down your location and the nature of your need and dispatch the right first responders to handle that specific incident.
As a first responder, I carry either a pager or a cell phone with an application that is called “I Am Responding”. This is the one used in our county but there are others available that do the same thing. I am a volunteer and upon receiving a brief summary of the problem and the location in our county, I decide whether I can respond in a timely manner to bring the assistance. I text the ‘911’ operator how I am responding. I may just respond ‘Standby’ if others are enroute. If I can respond, I text “I am responding” and give the location that I will respond to. I can either go to the scene of the incident or to the fire station No. 1 or No. 2 to pick up gear and fire equipment as needed. As I leave the station with the truck and equipment, I report that I am enroute. I use the app to follow the map to the scene. The operator can then track me in my response location.
I find many parallels in this system designed by man to help organize response with how God responds through His children to meet the needs of hurting people. God encourages His people to call out to Him in our time of need. We are to specifically state the need and ask in faith for His assistance. He says that we honor Him when we faithfully call out. He promises the help we need and this brings Him glory to show His loving care and provision. He knows right where we are and sends out those that will willingly serve us with the proper equipment and training.
Father God, Thank You that You hear every ‘911’ call of Your children and even those who do not know You. You send the help needed from willing responders. I offer myself to respond on Your behalf. Teach me to follow Your amazing system. Amen.
God’s unsearchable mysteries!
Scripture reading for August 12th: Jeremiah 30-33
“The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3
“While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, the Word of the Lord came to him a second time: “This is what the Lord says, He who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it–The Lord is His name: ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ “ Jeremiah 33:2-3
God loves His people! He draws His people to enter into a love relationship with Him by cords of loving-kindness. He knows that love must be freely given by His people and that they must be drawn back to Him from the world and it’s enticements. God’s love will ransom them from the hand of the enemy. (Jeremiah 31:11) He will cause them to take up the tambourine and dance with the joyful! (Jeremiah 31:4, 13)
At a time when the nation was surrounded by the Babylonians and Jeremiah was confined to the courtyard of the guard under house arrest, God revealed to Jeremiah of a time when He would make a new covenant with Israel and Judah. This covenant will be different than the old one made with those who came out of Egypt. This covenant would include God writing His law on the human heart and mind. God would personally be their God and each person would personally know God. Forgiveness of sin would be experienced by all and God Himself would remember it no more. (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
The condition for great revelation was calling on God in the midst of trial and trouble! The amazing promises of great things given to Jeremiah included the promise of the righteous “Branch” that would sprout from David’s line. (Jeremiah 33:14-16) His name would be “The Lord our Righteousness”. This “Branch” is none other than Jesus Christ! He was the embodiment of the everlasting love of God in human flesh and draws us with His new covenant loving-kindness! These unsearchable things are revealed to those who call on Him!
Great and unsearchable things!
Scripture reading for August 12th: Jeremiah 30-33
“The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3
“While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, the Word of the Lord came to him a second time: “This is what the Lord says, He who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it–The Lord is His name: ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ ” Jeremiah 33:2-3
God loves His people! He always has and always will love them! He draws His people to enter into a love relationship with Him by cords of loving-kindness. He knows that love must be freely given by His people and that they must be drawn back to Him from the world and it’s enticements. God’s love will ransom them from the hand of the enemy. (Jeremiah 31:11) He will cause them to take up the tambourine and dance with the joyful! (Jeremiah 31:4, 13)
God then speaks to Jeremiah of a time that is coming when He will make a new covenant with Israel and Judah. This covenant will be different than the old one made with those who came out of Egypt. This covenant would include God writing His law on the human heart and mind. God would personally be their God and each person would personally know God. His forgiveness of sin would be experienced by all and God Himself would remember it no more. (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
These visions of restoration came to Jeremiah at a most unlikely time in the history of the nation. The nation was surrounded by the Babylonians and Jeremiah was confined to the courtyard of the guard under house arrest. In the natural, it did not look good. But in the midst of the troubling time, God’s word brought hope and encouragement to Jeremiah and His people. God would allow the destruction of the Temple and city and send the people into captivity but He promised restoration and the coming time of the New Covenant.
The condition for great revelation is calling on God in faith in the midst of trial and trouble! The amazing promises of great things given to Jeremiah included the promise of the righteous “Branch” that would sprout from David’s line. (Jeremiah 33:14-16) This “Branch” would bring salvation to Judah and peace and safety to Jerusalem. His name would be “The Lord our Righteousness”. This “Branch” is none other than Jesus Christ! He is the salvation of His people, and their righteousness! He brought the “New Covenant” in His own blood that would enable eternal forgiveness of sins and the law written on hearts. He was the embodiment of the everlasting love of God in human flesh and draws us with His loving-kindness! These are great and unsearchable things revealed to those who call on Him! What a wonderful promise!