We Are Called, ELW 720
Come! Live in the light!
Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord!
We are called to be light for the kingdom,
to live in the freedom of the city of God.
We are called to act with justice,
we are called to love tenderly;
we are called to serve one another,
to walk humbly with God.
Come! Open your heart!
Show your mercy to all those in fear!
We are called to be hope for the hopeless
so hatred and blindness will be no more.
We are called to act with justice,
we are called to love tenderly;
we are called to serve one another,
to walk humbly with God.
Sing! Sing a new song!
Sing of that great day when all will be one!
God will reign, and we'll walk with each other
as sisters and brothers united in love.
We are called to act with justice,
we are called to love tenderly;
we are called to serve one another,
to walk humbly with God.
Devotion
Whenever I hear this song, its rhythm and lyrics give me an image of someone moving amongst a crowded, busy street, speaking one by one to as many people as possible. The person beckons those nearby to be light for the kingdom, to be hope for the hopeless, to act with justice and to love tenderly. It’s an image of one impassioned by the gospel, one who cannot contain the world-changing power of God and must tell everyone.
My time in Myanmar gave me a new, challenging vision of how difficult life is in many parts of the world. As I wrestle with the tensions of unequal distributions of wealth and resources, lack of purposeful work, human trafficking and corruption that drives people to lie, cheat and steal for daily bread, it helps to share stories of life in Myanmar so that others might see that they too are called.
Prayer
God of justice and Prince of Peace, we lay before you the cries of the world and our aching hearts. You alone can make all things new. Give us wisdom, energy and strength to work for justice, to seek peace and to serve others with the love we know only in you, O God. Amen.