“The sheep that are My own hear My voice and listen to Me; I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27 AMP)
Yesterday morning, I got up before 2:00 a.m. EST. This was after rolling over and trying to get at least a couple of hours of sleep. It’s the time of the year for the college basketball tournaments and I admit I went from one channel to the other, one game to the other the night before, not closing my eyes until after 10:30 p.m. After tossing and turning, I got up and walked toward the dining room table where I have been working these past several mornings. When I say I walked, I am using the term liberally or generously. If I was being video taped by a hidden hall corner as I stumbled and swayed, slowly back and forth, and you got to see it, you would think I was doing either a John Wayne impersonation, a Sanford and Son imitation, an impromptu back up dance as in “Thriller,” or since I gradually became more upright with each step, you might think I was mocking the evolution of man theory as depicted on scientific charts. I quietly laughed at myself. I stopped at the bathroom in the hallway and debated whether or not I should head back to bed after following CDC guidelines and washing my hands. I couldn’t do it! I could not go back to bed! I went right to work! It was as if the Lord was calling me at that very moment. As I sat down to write, I sang a song in my head, “When He Calls Me, I Will Answer.”
Almost 24 hours have passed, and I was allowed to sleep a little bit longer last night. So don’t be upset if you think this meditation is too short. I just want to challenge you to be like me. Whenever the Lord calls you today and whatever He calls you to do, answer the call. If He calls you to pray, answer Him and pray. If He calls you to rectify a wrong, answer Him and reach out and do so. If He calls you to be better on your job, answer Him and be better. If He calls you to go beyond your ego and admit you were wrong in the way you responded to someone, answer Him, and say those two little tough words, “I’m sorry.” If He calls you to repair a relationship that is reeling because of your stubbornness, answer Him and reconcile quickly. If the Lord calls you to do anything, answer Him. Your willingness will be noted and a “well done” compliment will be coming your way. Now only you will recognize when He calls you today, so only you can answer. Sing with me, “When He Calls Me, I will Answer.” Be listening for His call, and have the mindset expressed in the rest of the verse, “I’ll be somewhere listening for my name.” Be blessed!
” A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (I Samuel 3:8-10 NIV)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King