The first time we read of someone calling upon the Lord in Scripture is found in Genesis 4:26: “Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the Lord.” Seth’s descendants, who were dependent on God, are in contrast to Cain’s descendants, who lived independent of God. Next, we read of Abram in Genesis 12:8, who “built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord.” Later, we see Isaac doing the same (Gen. 26:25). To call on the name of the Lord is to approach Him in thanksgiving, worship, and petition, and in so doing proclaim the name of God.

Calling upon the Lord begins at salvation: “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13). But calling on the name of the Lord is to be a lifelong pursuit: “Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live” (Ps. 116:2). He desires to bend His ear to hear us as we call upon Him.

Calling on the name of the Lord is one of the marks of a Christian. Paul wrote, “To the church of God which is at Corinth … with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Cor. 1:2). We are told, “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth” (Ps. 145:18). If the Lord seems far away, remember He is near to those who call upon Him!

I think of Stephen, who endured the hatred of those whom he was sharing Christ with. As they were throwing stones at Him, he looked up and saw the glory of God in the face of the Lord Jesus: “they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit’ … And when he had said this, he fell asleep” (Acts 7:59–60). Here was a man who called upon the Lord in time of trouble and was heard! You can call upon Him today!