Pursuing Alongside Those Who Call on the Lord

“Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, 
faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord 
out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22 NKJV)

    This verse has been our theme for the past few months, and as this topic of study is now drawing to a close I would like to briefly summarize what we have learned in studying this instruction:

• Righteousness is our commitment to learn from God’s word and live it.
• Faith develops when we commit to fully trust God and obey His instructions.
• Love is shown when we commit to be considerate and help others, no matter what.
• Peace is found when we commit to do what is right and proper to maintain relationship between yourself and God, and yourself and others.    

     We are strengthened in our commitment in these areas by those around us who are pursuing the same, “those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” Over the remainder of this month, as the Lord wills, we will dig into what this description means. 

    To begin let's get a better understanding of what it means to "call on the Lord."

    We find this term for the first time in Genesis 4:26, after Adam & Eve’s son Seth begot a son, himself. “Then men began to call on the name of the LORD.” (NKJV) It is then found throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament. So, what does it mean exactly?

    “Call” (Strong’s Greek #1941) means ‘to invoke, to appeal, to call on someone in authority for aid, help, decision, worship.’ It also means ‘to be named after someone.’

    Who are we to call on? To whom should we appeal to for aid, for help, for decision? Whom should we seek to worship?

    The answer is simple: “The Lord.”

    We call on the Lord, who is supreme in authority! We appeal to our loving Master and Creator for help and for guidance! It is the Almighty LORD God whom we seek to worship, in spirit and in truth!

    We come to the God the Father through Jesus (John 14:6), we call on the Lord and make our petitions known to Him through Jesus (John 16:23-24, Colossians 3:17); it is in His name that we make our requests known.

    Remember how “call” means ‘to be named after someone’? Are your named after someone? Do you wear the name “Christian”? My Uncle Roy Diestelkamp would often pronounced this name as “Christ-ian” to remind us all of Whom we were named after!

    As a Christian, you take on the name of Christ, you submit to His authority and the supreme authority of God the Father. You belong to Him (1 John 3:1-3). You give Him the power of deciding; you let His commands and instructions to be the guide for your life!

    May each of our hearts continually say, “Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! While I live I will praise the LORD; I will sing praise to me God while I have my being.” (Psalm 146:1-2 NKJV)

    Calling on the Lord is “praying without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), never giving up on prayer. Calling on the Lord is wearing His name and being happy about it, humbly doing the work, and sharing your joy in Christ with others. Calling on the Lord is going to Him first in trouble and in gladness, going to His word for answers, help, and guidance. Calling on the Lord is acknowledging that without Him we are lost and we will use every moment we are given to show Him how much we appreciate His gift of grace, mercy, forgiveness, and hope!!

 “For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, 
and abundant in mercy to all who call upon You.” 
(Psalm 86:5 NKJV) 

    Be among those who call on the Lord, so that you can help 

those who are also pursuing righteousness, faith, love, and peace!!

You can do it! So can I!!