THE CHURCH: Heed the Call
45 Days of Praying for the Elections - DAY 25
SCRIPTURE: “I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;”1 Timothy 2:8
Back when we were kids, and our mothers opened the door and called our names that meant it was getting dark and it was time to come into the house. What a dreaded time that was, for it seemed like playing with our friends was getting even better as it got darker. Some of us heeded that call instantly, because we knew what was waiting if we delayed. Others of us waited for the second or third call and for the pitch of that call to intensify, for then we knew she was not playing. Yet still there were others of us who liked walking the tightrope of death and didn’t heed the call at all, because the thought of prolonged fun seemed worth the price of one- or two-months of punishment.
Today, it is not our mothers calling our names, but the Lord our God speaking through His Word and His servants, and they have called us to observe the times and seasons, to abandon our affinity to the things of this world and, heed the call to fervent prayer. Our challenge is to yield to the Holy Spirit and deny our flesh, yet like Job’s wife, we have so enjoyed the pleasures of this world, our status in it, and we want to stay and play in it a little while longer. Church family, heed the call of the ones who labor for your souls (1 Thessalonians 5:12), who rightly divide the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15), who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things (Romans 10:15), even when you don’t like to hear what they have to say. Heed their call for when we refuse the consequences that await us is a stiff neck (Deuteronomy 10:16, Jeremiah 17:23), a hard heart (Psalm 95:7-9), a chastening (Hebrews 12:6) that, if handled correctly, yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness (Hebrews 12:11), or if not handled correctly, even death. We have relied heavily upon God’s grace for the opportunities to get our attitudes and thinking right. Let us rely heavily upon God’s Word to be obedient to Him, trusting Him without doubt, and heeding His call and come in! As Jesus told His disciples, “I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” John 9:4 KJV.
Prayer: Jesus, we confess our sin of disobedience and selective hearing, of choosing to hear and heed when we feel like it, when it serves our purpose, when we are not inconvenienced. Thank You for Your Word and Your challenge to look beyond the temporal and see the eternal, to look beyond the carnal and see the spiritual. Forgive us when we reverse it and only see and operate from the flesh. May the Holy Spirit in every believer rise up with conviction and may we not grow dull of hearing that call to heed, rise up, come in, and pray.
By Sis. Paula Smith
Today, it is not our mothers calling our names, but the Lord our God speaking through His Word and His servants, and they have called us to observe the times and seasons, to abandon our affinity to the things of this world and, heed the call to fervent prayer. Our challenge is to yield to the Holy Spirit and deny our flesh, yet like Job’s wife, we have so enjoyed the pleasures of this world, our status in it, and we want to stay and play in it a little while longer. Church family, heed the call of the ones who labor for your souls (1 Thessalonians 5:12), who rightly divide the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15), who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things (Romans 10:15), even when you don’t like to hear what they have to say. Heed their call for when we refuse the consequences that await us is a stiff neck (Deuteronomy 10:16, Jeremiah 17:23), a hard heart (Psalm 95:7-9), a chastening (Hebrews 12:6) that, if handled correctly, yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness (Hebrews 12:11), or if not handled correctly, even death. We have relied heavily upon God’s grace for the opportunities to get our attitudes and thinking right. Let us rely heavily upon God’s Word to be obedient to Him, trusting Him without doubt, and heeding His call and come in! As Jesus told His disciples, “I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” John 9:4 KJV.
Prayer: Jesus, we confess our sin of disobedience and selective hearing, of choosing to hear and heed when we feel like it, when it serves our purpose, when we are not inconvenienced. Thank You for Your Word and Your challenge to look beyond the temporal and see the eternal, to look beyond the carnal and see the spiritual. Forgive us when we reverse it and only see and operate from the flesh. May the Holy Spirit in every believer rise up with conviction and may we not grow dull of hearing that call to heed, rise up, come in, and pray.
By Sis. Paula Smith
Archive
2024
January
Gratitude Mixed with Faith Should Equal ObedienceGrace Comes In God’s TimingGOD USES WHOM HE CHOOSESSeeing What God Sees to Get What God HasA Life Verse That Is Good for Every YearSeeing Things as God Sees ThemThree QuestionsDon’t Worry About the FutureForgiveness Is Our Daily CelebrationPeace When We Do RightGod’s True Children Certainly Should KnowRegret In Missed OpportunitiesThe Attitude of Delight Is RightMeditation Deprivation Is EvidentARE YOU A DISCIPLE OR JUST A CONVERT?An Anchored Soul Won’t QuitGod Wants to Be BelievedFinding God in Our PainI Must Be About God’s WordWhat the Wondrous Word of God Can Do in a Willing ServantSeeing Things God’s WayGetting Along for Jesus SakeMeditating Brings Us Success In The Christian LifeThe State of Mind That Pleases GodPraised By the RaisedHaving the Right Knowledge for Real FaithWhose Mind Do You Think With?All My Heart & All My WaysWise with the Lord’s TimeNo Shame About What God Has SaidPrayer Is A Conversation
February
DEEP ARMOR FOR THE STEEP CLIMBDressed in the Whole Armor of God for Spiritual WarfareGRAB THAT ARMORSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIn My Dressing Room (Putting on the Armor of God)Armored for Any WeatherTruth is Foundation for Our FaithA Work in Progress and A Mouth in TrainingREJECTION OF GOSSIP, SLANDER, LIES, AND DISCORD: THE PERFECTING OF 'FEBRUARY'THE DETESTABLESSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIf the Lord Hates It, We Should TooThe Offense Ward of the Sin HospitalSpilling the TeaWe are in ChristLet us Do BetterSpread Love, Not GossipSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLThe GREATEST THRILL: Being SPIRIT - FilledTHE HOLY SPIRIT'S CONTROLA Drunken SpiritLookin’ Like Our DaddyFermented or Fresh; How is Your Fruit?We Have it AllSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLJESUS’ LOVE MANDATEHIS Walk, Our Hopethe greatest gift of allTo Love Like Christ
March
LOVE x LOVELove is CommitmentSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor CockrellTHE HIGHEST DEBT OF LOVEPREVAILING IN LOVE, AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE PROMISEReturn Your Love to METhe Loveless ChurchWhat Do You Want First: the Good News or the Bad News?POSITIVE FRICTION THAT MAKES US BETTERSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHis Love Versus My FearsJESUS LOVES YOUBe Surrendered to 'Love'Victory Over Fear: Life’s Small LessonsJesus, Our VictoryTRUST CHRIST, BANISH FEARSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHarmony and Discord Aren’t FriendsHOLY PARAMETERSBlinded by HateACT or REACTRESISTING ANGER AND HATE IN CONFLICTPeculiar PeopleSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellONWARD & UPWARDHow To Fall ForwardThe Front Windshield is Much Bigger than the Rearview MirrorONE THING TO DOLooking Back Will Have You SaltyGreat Cloud of WitnessesSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne Cockrell
3 Comments
Amen sister Paula. I remember those days hearing my mom calling our names to come in. I pray I hear our Father calling my name and I come. Help me Lord!!!
Amen, Sis Paula! In my case, I don't remember our mother calling us, but when those streetlights came on, we knew we had better come in the house!
Amen. What relatable note. I was a part of that big middle group waiting for the 'the call' to intensify, or the threat of 'I'm going to get your father!'. Rarely, I'd dare to be in that third group.
nWhat an applicable note for the children of God, likewise, to heed the call for the stakes before us. Indeed, delayed obedience, in real-time and in eternity, is disobedience. Forgive us Lord!
nLet us pray without ceasing [in all seasons], rejoice always [throughout every season], and be ever greatly grateful [for the presence of God at all times] ... while it is 'day'. May our actions, habits, and lifestyles, as well as legacies follow those affections and build, as the Spirit leads. Amen.