Let’s Never Play A Role! WHY? Because Roll Is Being Called & We Must Ask Ourselves: “Where Do We Stand? & What Will We Do?”
“Present.”
“Here.”
“Present Sir.”
“Present & Accounted For.”
“Present Teacher.”
“Right here I am.”
Roll Call. According to Merriam Webster, “to move or cause to move in a particular direction.”
How often have we heard our name called from a roll and knew that we were expected to acknowledge our presence? Oftentimes, the above statements were coupled with a lifting of our hands. Sometimes, we may have been standing in a line and need to step forward, away from the rest standing inside the line, to indicate our presence. Then there’s the silent acknowledgment of eye contact we give with the one calling roll that clearly indicates (to the one who is marking names)—we are present.
As a teacher for a LONG time, I have discovered the value found in knowing, in learning, a student’s name. YES! People readily respond to the sound of their name when spoken aloud.
- The same is true with the Master.
- The same is true with our Master Teacher.
- The same is true with our Savior, our Redeemer, and our LORD.
- The same is true with Almighty God.
- Truly, without a doubt—The same is true!!!
The number of years we live upon this earth, nor the number of years we wear the badge of “Christian” clearly Does Not Matter. No! What matters most is HOW we live, HOW we walk, HOW we obey, and HOW we praise our LORD!
How are we doing?
Are we ready to go home (to stand before God)?
Have we confessed our every sin before God? OR
Are we not even recognizing our sin because we refuse to look upon that one thing as God does, to see sin as God sees our sin, and so we go on living, oblivious?
God knows!
The question that I ponder most today is this: What does God require of ME of MANKIND? & As I studied God’s Word this morning, His answer came through the prophet Micah’s words recorded within the Old Testament.
“With what shall I come to the LORD
And bow myself before the God on high?
Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings,” [with my man-made trinkets?]
“With yearling calves?” [with what I call my own?]
“Does the LORD take delight in thousands of rams,” [with the multitude of stuff I call MINE?]
“In ten thousand rivers of oil?” [with that which I think I do, but what is really beyond my control to give?]
“Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts,” [the child God graciously gave me to love?]
“The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” [the family God so lovingly provided?]
[No! Surely NOT! God does not need anything we could ever create or produce or do!]
“He has told you, O man, what is good;”[God has revealed the good He desires of His children.]
“And what does the LORD require of you”[Truly, God has spoken! God has revealed with clarity that which He desires from us.]
“But to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with Your God?”[Justice—Doing what is RIGHT.]
[Kindness—Always Walking in His GOODNESS in relationship with others.]
(Micah 6:6-8)
[Humility—Knowing GOD IS GOD & We Are Not!]
Are we present and accounted for?
Are we stepping forward & lifting up our hands—Revealing Our Position in Christ Jesus?
Are we making eye contact with those who are seeking God? OR Are we shrinking back and fading into the crowd—Ashamed and Afraid to Really Trust our LORD?
Roll is being called.
“The voice of the LORD will call to the city—
(Micah 6:9)
And it is sound wisdom to fear Your name: . . . .”