In the beginning of time, Adam and Eve had a face-to-face interactive relationship with God, our Creator. They enjoyed life with Him in the Garden of Eden until disobedience.  What did God do when they disobeyed His command? He called them.

Genesis 3:⁶ And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. ⁷And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. ⁸And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. ⁹And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

What does God calling them mean to you?

What would you have done if they disobeyed you?

God did not call them because He did not know where they were. God knows everything. God sees everything. As a Father, God calls for reconciliation. God desires relationship with us. But we all inherit from Adam a sinful rebellious nature that wants our own way rather than God’s way.

God calls us

Matthew 11:²⁸ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Notice there is no prerequisite in His invitation. Just come.

What burden do you have today? Jesus calls you to come so He can bear it with you.

God calls because He cares for each one of us

2 Peter 3:⁸ But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁹The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Will you respond to His call?

Do you know this song?

Softly and Tenderly – Will L. Thompson, 1880

1. 1. Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, Calling for you and for me;
      See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching, Watching for you and for me.

    

   • Refrain:
     Come home, come home, You who are weary, come home;
     Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, Calling, O sinner, come home!

    

   2. Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading, Pleading for you and for me?
      Why should we linger and heed not His mercies, Mercies for you and for me?

    

   3. Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing, Passing from you and from me;
      Shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming, Coming for you and for me.

    

   4. Oh, for the wonderful love He has promised, Promised for you and for me!
      Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon, Pardon for you and for me.

Our focus – Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, ²Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Our challenge – Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you with an everlasting, unconditional love; has uniquely designed  and created only one you; has a good plan for your life; runs with you; and will accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with your focus on His mission: to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti