Call on His Name
In Acts 2:21 Peter ends his quotation from Joel’s prophecy with a challenge and an invitation. “…everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” This is where the Holy Spirit offers us the gift of God’s salvation. A divine lifeline thrown to a people who are drowning. But there’s a condition. Salvation is for “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord!”
That phrase is the Old Testament equivalent of “worshiping the Lord.” It’s bowing before Him, offering “your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.” (Romans 12:1) It also implies acknowledging your own emptiness, your frailty and your failures.
But we often only acknowledge that when we’ve finally come to the end of our rope. That’s when we cry out. It may be in desperation like Acts 2:37. Or it may be an almost inaudible prayer like that of the tax collector in the temple who said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13). But often, it’s like the wailing of ten lepers in Luke 17:13 who cry from a distance, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us,” because we’re afraid to come too close.
Whatever the words, the result of calling on the name of the Lord is always the same. The blind receive sight, lepers are cleansed, and sinners are forgiven.
That’s the Good News of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit continues Jesus’ ministry of salvation, hope, renewal and refreshment. Jesus is in heaven, but His ministry, as empowered by the Holy Spirit, continues here on earth.
It continues through young men who dream dreams and through sons and daughters who see visions. It continues through organists and music directors. Through Sunday School teachers, and Christian couples sharing their faith at barbecues with their neighbors. Jesus’ ministry continues through all of God’s people whether it’s at the school desk, or the machine shop, or at assembly lines, or in shopping malls.
Pentecost means that the world is set ablaze. A new era has been ushered in. It’s an era of grace and salvation, of mission and evangelism. But according to God’s timeline it also means that we’re moving closer to judgment as well.
God has given us this space of time for a purpose. Listen and hear the call. The time is short. Repent and call on the name of the Lord. I know that’s not easy. Repentance is uncomfortable because it means acknowledging our shortcomings and turning away from our sins. But today is still the day of grace because, “…everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!”
God doesn’t want any of His people to perish. That’s why He sent us His Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit is calling on us today to share the Good News so he can save others as well.
So, do it. Call on the name of the Lord!