THE service at Crediton Methodist Church on Sunday, January 14, was led by Rev Barbara Greenwood.

Her theme was “Called by name”.

In Psalm 139 we read that we are known to God before we were born and that He knows what we are about to say before we say anything.  We are totally known by God.  Barbara asked: “How much do we know God?”

Throughout the Bible we learn that God is love, is merciful, is jealous, is compassionate, is mighty and God is with us.

Barbara compared telephoning a call centre where you talk to a different person every time you call to visiting a bank where you get to know the cashier and are treated as a person not just a number on the phone.

So it is with God, He knows us intimately – “I have called you by name”. 

God knows us and treats us as individuals and calls us in different ways to which we respond differently.

In John 1 we read that Jesus called Philip directly and immediately Philip followed. We think of Samuel, Saul and others today who have all responded to direct calls.

Some are called indirectly such as Nathanael who was told by Philip and others who heard the call from parents, Sunday school teachers, evangelists etc.

Calls vary - so do responses. Some people respond immediately whilst others develop faith gradually.

We are called to holiness, honesty, integrity, responsibility, compassion, self control and service.  Answering the call is starting a journey – not arriving at the finishing post.

However we hear the call from God, the response of faith is to want to follow and accept the obligation to serve.

Bronwyn Nott