“You rang, m’lord?” This doesn’t refer to a phone call. It was the response of household servants when summoned by a bell.
One result of placing our faith in Christ as Savior is a remarkable communications device. The moment we believe, God “put His Spirit in our hearts as a pledge of what is to come.” (2 Corinthians 1:22, BSB)
The Holy Spirit’s role in the believer is amazing! First, He “testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” (Romans 8:16) In other words, He keeps us in constant contact with our Father in heaven.
This includes giving us a new sensitivity to what pleases—and displeases—our Father. He’s also our non-stop Tutor when we read the Word, our Comforter in difficult times, and the One who empowers us to accomplish God’s will.
You see what that means? We now have a direct line to God’s heart. If He wants to meet someone’s need, He can signal us to join in the project.
It happened to me the other day. I thought of a woman recently widowed in Missouri. When I called, I said it wasn’t my idea. God didn’t have a phone and asked to use mine.
Today I received her note. She wrote, “Your message from heaven to call me was so encouraging. I’ve been walking on air to know that the Lord would care enough to send me His love through one of His saints.”
Years ago, I was finishing a week of Bible teaching in Alberta, Canada. As I was packing my bag, Sam Rae, an old friend, entered my room.
Without a word of greeting, he recounted a story he thought I should have on file to tell someday. Maybe today.
As a boy, he lived with his Christian parents and siblings in a mining village in Scotland. One evening, his father told his mother, “I must take a loaf of bread and a pot of jam to the McMullens,” fellow-believers in the same village.
“It’s ten o’clock,” she replied. “Take it in the morning.” So they got ready for bed. But he couldn’t sleep.
“I have to do it tonight,” he explained, putting his clothes back on, and away he went to the McMullens.
The lights were on, and, when the door opened, he saw the whole family dressed and sitting at the table.
Old Sam said, “My father apologized for coming so late, but said he felt the Lord wanted him to bring them the bread and jam that night.
Mr McMullen turned and looked at the mantle clock. “Three minutes to midnight,” he said. “‘Give us THIS DAY our daily bread.’ We had nothing to eat. Earlier, as a family we prayed that prayer. And He just answered it.”
Dear Christian, this is real. If you abruptly think of someone, it may not be a synapse misfiring in your brain. Is your Father sending you a message? Jesus said, “When you did it to one of the least of these My brothers and sisters, you were doing it to Me!” (Matthew 25:40, NLT)
So call that widow. Contact that college student. Reconnect with that old friend. Make sure you have some living bread to give them, and a little encouragement to sweeten their life.
Perhaps that name you recalled really was out of the blue.
“You rang, m’Lord?”
Article published August 23, 2025 in the Commercial Dispatch.