A Heavenly Call

It’s no surprise that he made the first long-distance call. On February 12, 1877, Alexander Graham Bell demonstrated his new invention, the telephone, to an audience in Salem, Massachusetts, by calling his assistant, Thomas Watson, who was eighteen miles away in Boston. The Rutland Daily Globe reported, “It was a very noteworthy occasion, certainly; and the complete success attained led to the discussion of many plans for the further practical utilization of the telephone.”

You have received a long-distance call all the way from heaven. This was no ordinary call. “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). God has called a people out of every nation on earth to be one great family.

The Bible speaks of these called people as the church—which is the Greek word ekklesia and means “a calling out.” In secular Greek society, this term simply referred to a general gathering. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew equivalent, qahal, referred to an assembly or congregation. “The king turned around and blessed the whole assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing” (1 Kings 8:14).

In the New Testament, the word “church” was applied to those who believed in Jesus as the Messiah, who accepted Him and His teachings, and who were joined to the organization set up by Him. The church was also spoken of as “one body in Christ” (Romans 12:5). As Ephesians 4:4 states, there is “one body” because “you were called in one hope.” It’s a call you should always answer.

Apply It:

Who is your favorite person to call long distance?

Dig Deeper:

1 Samuel 17:47; 1 Corinthians 11:18; Ephesians 4:11–16

Key Bible Texts

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (Ephesians 4:4 KJV)