Called by Name
By Pastor Wilson
If you are a sports-starved individual like myself during these days, perhaps you enjoyed spending some time the weekend before last watching the NFL draft. During the course of three days, 255 young men heard their names’ called to begin their NFL careers. Of course, the first name called was that of Joe Burrow- the Athens Highschool graduate who recently quarterbacked LSU to a college football national championship last year. The Cincinnati Bengals hope that Burrow can lead their rebuilding efforts in the years ahead. For his part, Burrow said hearing his name called as the first pick was a dream come true.
Last week over 100 individuals studying to be pastors and deaconesses in the LCMS heard their names called too. Call Day at both LCMS seminaries was a little different this year, no in-person services were held due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but each seminary hosted a virtual service where their graduating students received their first calls into ministry. I know from experience the great excitement I had when I heard my name called in such a way. While we will be very sad to say goodbye to Vicar Shaw and his family at the end of their year with us in July, we are also excited for them to hear his name called a year from now and find out where he will serve as pastor.
It is indeed great to hear your name called and to know that an organization or church has selected you to come and be a part of their team or congregation. But in the big scheme of things these two examples make it seem like only a few are lucky enough to have this experience. Think about it… over 1 million kids played high school football in our country a year ago, about 12,500 played college football, and only 255 heard their name called into the NFL. In the LCMS, our church body has more than 1.8 million members, but less than 6,000 pastors and more leaving the ministry than entering it. The NFL Draft and Call Day are fun, but for the vast majority of us- we will never hear our name called at either. But there is yet good news. For you, for me, for all of us in Christ.
Listen to these beautiful words from Isaiah 43 as God speaks to His people Israel.
“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”
And so too has God called us by name. For He has called us into His family through our baptisms into Him. Just as the Bengals said, “I want you, Joe!” And just as churches said, “We want you, Pastor!” “We want you, Deaconess!” So too has God done the same for you. Wait, actually, He has done even more. For Joe Burrow was selected because of his superior football skill and leadership. Pastors and Deaconesses are only called after years of theological study and formation. But God calls us into His family- not because we deserve it. Not because we have earned it. But solely because He loves us in His mercy and grace. But don’t take my word, hear God’s Word instead in Romans 5:8, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
For even in our sin Jesus died for us. Even though we don’t deserve it- God has forgiven us in Christ. Even though we could never earn it, our Heavenly Father has called us by name in our baptisms and into His family for all time. Thanks be to God that He has.
If you or someone in your family has yet to receive this free gift of God in baptism, please reach out to us at Trinity and let us know. We would be overjoyed to celebrate it with you and your family as God calls your name and makes you- His.