IN a crowded court one day a man was seen pushing his way through the crowd. “What are you pushing for?” sternly inquired an officer of the court.
“Why,” was the reply, “did you not hear? I’m called.”
A call from God has gone forth for you, dear reader. Have you answered it? Many a time you have doubtless listened to the precious gospel, and in that message there was a call from the God or all grace to you.
You Are Called.
“Come; for all things are now ready,” was the message borne by the servant to those who were bidden to the great supper (Luke 14); and a like invitation is addressed to men today, bidding them come and feast upon the rich bounty which boundless grace has provided.
Many there are who would come if only they were addressed by another name. Now when God speaks He speaks plainly, and when He calls He calls people by their right name, and gives them their proper title. Who then are called?
Sinners!
“I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” This is the first call, and in taking your true place before God—that of a sinner—you come into the place where His call of grace can be heard and answered to by you. “Let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”
It is not men’s doings that God wants. He does not, in His call, seek for anything from man. It is the ear He wants, the ear of faith, into which He can tell out what He has done to secure man’s messing; how, at infinite cost to Himself, He has procured salvation for man, a salvation which embraces both present and future, a salvation worthy of God, and perfectly suited to man.”
“Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.”
ML 10/20/1918