Call

It was love at first sight. A friend of mine was in town for a few days to get some ideas to use in her ministry. Then he walked in. Their eyes met. Instantly he knew. He was about 12 years old and it was as if he'd met his long lost grandmother.

He was at church more that weekend than any other time I can remember. He would come early and stay late just to be around her a little more. Between activities he would run down the block to his house to "put on something nice," something we'd never seen him do before.

And the feeling was mutual. This kid had instantly gotten into my friends heart. Between activities she would ask more details about his life. She gave him lots of special attention throughout the weekend. He was clearly her favorite.

After the final activity on Sunday evening she and I were debriefing her visit. Naturally, she asked some more questions about this boy. Somehow it came up that he had not been baptized.

A kind of panic came over her. She emphatically declared, "I've got to find him." She dashed out onto our dark street that dark September night and started yelling his name. Over and over again she called as it echoed off the row houses. She had to see him one more time.

After a few minutes he came out of his house. They had a long, quiet, private conversation on the sidewalk directly in front of the church then parted. Relieved, she came back into the church to continue with our conversation.

How strange and wonderful it must have been for him be in his house and to recognize his name being called out. How strange and wonderful it is when we hear the One who loves us calling our name.

Have you heard your name called out by the One who loves you? Over and over and over His voice echoes through all of creation calling us to step out from where we are and to come to Him.

He's been in love with us since the beginning of time. Though we have a long history of doing all we can to ignore the calling, to reject the love, to hide and keep our distance, to try to be unlovable, He still calls out to us day and night.

I shutter to think what would have happened had the boy not come back outside that night. To what lengths would my friend have been willing and able to go between that moment and her departure the next day in order to let him know how much he is loved? And none of us knew how much we would cling on Love's foundation in just a few days that night of September 9, 2001.

Listen. Your name is echoing down the streets. Your Creator calls you by your name. He wants you to know even more of His love. He wants to encourage, equip, and empower you to live in His love each moment. Step out your door and come to the sound of His voice.

Lord, let me hear Your love's call. Let me respond in love to that call and come out of my world to You.