This devotion is a monthly ministry of the Pee Dee Baptist Association, comprised of 31 Southern Baptist churches in Dillon and Marlboro Counties. For more information call 774-8062.
Featured this month is Rev. Rob Pierce, the pastor of Latta Baptist Church, Latta.

For the past several weeks, I’ve been working on our second annual Marriage Retreat to be held in Myrtle Beach in February of next year. I decided to personally visit some of the hotels that could handle the number of people and the needs we have for a marriage retreat. It was interesting to hear back from the various hotels and to see the difference in their pricing as they were competing for our business.
During this process I made several phone calls to clarify some details of our needs for the retreat. It was interesting to me that some of the individuals that I had met with personally were either delayed in returning my call or did not return my call at all.
Before I became a pastor, I was an outside sales representative with Trayco Plumbing Specialities. I worked for Trayco for over 10 years, seven in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and three in Myrtle Beach. I was on full commission and did not receive a salary. In other words, if I didn’t write an order, I didn’t get paid. I learned early on to do everything I could possibly do an order to please the customer. If I took care of them and their needs, then I would get the order and earn a commission so I could take care of me and my family. As a result, I learned to return phone calls in a timely manner even before the time of cell phone availability.
Having potential customers for the marriage retreat where their hotel would make a great deal of money in the off-season, not returning my call was baffling to me as a former sales representative. They could benefit greatly if they’d simply take the time to return my call.
You and I can benefit greatly if we answer the call of God. He is calling us in several areas of our lives, and we need to answer.
First of all, God is calling you to repentance. In Luke 5:32, Jesus states that He has come to call sinners to repentance. That’s what we are – sinners. God is calling you to repent or to turn away from your sin. To not only say that you are sorry but to change your behavior.
Secondly, God is calling you to live a life on a different level, to a different standard. Paul wrote in Philippians 3:14: “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” That indicates to me that we should be living for Him! Is there evidence in your lifestyle that you are pressing on toward the prize of the upward call of God?
Finally, God is calling you to be saved. Saved from yourself and saved from eternity separated from Him in a place called Hell. This is not where you answer the call but when you are the one calling out. Romans 10:13 says, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Are you calling on the name of the Lord? Have you surrendered your life to Him? I want to invite you to answer God’s call on your life and simply call out to Him today. Phone 1-800-633-3446 today to find out how!