Today is day five of the #iheartBible challenge that I’m hosting. If you have joined up, hooray! I’m glad you’re here. If you want to join up, then awesomesauce. Check out the challenge post for details and join in on the linky so we can all read one another’s posts during the challenge. I love Jesus and blogging, so I’m glad to see people joining in. We’d love to have you join, too.
Today’s verse is Romans 10.17. It is below in its context. (Why do I care about context?)
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
My knee-jerk reaction to this verse in context is relating it to the famous quote: “Preach the gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.” I dislike this that quote. It is highly unlikely that people who have never heard of Jesus are going to miraculously know who he is just by you doing something nice to them or treating them with love.
Pagans can be nice. What sets us apart from nice actions of pagans? Jesus.
At some point, those without Jesus need to hear the gospel. They need to know that we have all failed and are all heading to eternal death, but that Jesus came, was perfect, and died as a payment for our shortcomings. When we believe that, we’re forgiven. Forever. And we begin eternal life–life that is both never-ending and better than any life we can live without Jesus. They need to know this and kind actions or giving aren’t enough. This must be accompanied by the truth of Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection.
The context of the verse supports this. Verse 14 asks prudent questions: How are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? How are they to hear without someone preaching?
Indeed.
Why hand out free water on a hot day if people aren’t told where they can find The One who will forever quench our thirsts?
Why feed the poor if we don’t explain The One who provides all our needs?
Why love the unlovable if we don’t describe The One from whom we get the power to love?
I don’t often find an opportunity to tell others about Jesus, but I have spent time helping Christians to understand the gravity of whom they have come to believe. Sometimes we believe but need help with our unbelief. Or, perhaps that’s just me. And others I’ve mentored.
Even when things have been tough, the facts from the Bible have kept me stable. When I feel disgustingly sinful, horribly disappointing, or simply unworthy, I can rely on the facts found in the Bible to know that I am forgiven. Made clean. Wanted. And made worthy. Because I am forgiven. Forgiven unconditionally.
That’s the power of Truth. That’s the power of Jesus.
Love,
