Joel 2:32 And everyone who calls
    on the name of the Lord will be saved;
for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
    there will be deliverance,
    as the Lord has said,
even among the survivors
    whom the Lord calls.

I almost chose to write on verse 25, because that also feels very meaningful right now, but this verse won out. The statement, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved,” is immensely powerful, and is quoted by both Peter and Paul. (Acts 2:21, Romans 10:13) Our human minds think that’s too simple, but there are a few conditions built into it. In the first place, the person who calls has to know they need to be saved. Sadly, far too many people don’t fit into that category – and that includes a lot of nominal Christians. The second point is that they have to know the Lord exists, and to some extent at least, who He is. I have read quite a few testimonies of people who called out to Allah, and he didn’t answer, but when they called out to Jesus, He did. This is where we come in, because it is our privilege and responsibility to tell others about Jesus so that they can call out to Him. The third thing is that there has to be enough humility to ask for help. And many people stumble on this point as well. Often we have to come to the end of our own resources before we’ll reach out the One who holds everything in His hands. All that said, those three points are hardly insurmountable! As Paul said, God “wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4) God opens the door as wide as possible, but it is our own stubbornness and pride that make it narrow. (Matthew 7:13-14)

Over the years there have been many people to whom I’ve ministered who died without making a public profession of faith in Christ, but I hold onto the hope that in their dying moments, they cried out to the Jesus they had heard about from me. However, that’s hardly what we would call effective evangelism! Public profession and baptism are almost infinitely better, and that’s what I’m to work for. Last night we had a concert here, and I was absolutely thrilled that three people I have been working with personally, as well as others who are not yet believers, came to it. I’m still somewhat in “shock and awe!” We didn’t promote this as evangelistic, but simply as a concert, and that was non-threatening enough that people came. The couple who performed gave personal testimonies, not “sermons,” that clearly and gently showed the way to salvation, and I believe they were received. The anointed music certainly didn’t hurt! I need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit from this point as well, not failing to follow through, but not applying pressure that’s not needed. I believe we’re going to need our baptistry a lot in the coming months! I need to keep praying for these people, that the devil will be unable to steal the seed that has been planted, and that it will bear abundant fruit, not just for these people’s salvation but for further expansion of the Kingdom of God.

Father, I’m still blown away by what You did last night. Thank You that it’s so clear that it wasn’t my doing! Help me be more and more yielded and available to You, so that You may do through me whatever You like, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!