Day 25: Romans 10:14-21: Sent to Share the Good News

God spreads the gospel through people willing to share it.

Paul now asks an important question, How can people believe in Jesus if they've never heard of Him?

Faith comes through hearing the message of Christ. That's why sharing the gospel matters. God uses ordinary people to carry extraordinary news. Paul also explains that many still rejected the message- not because God was absent, but because hearts were resistant.

Reflection ?: Who in your life may need to hear about Jesus through you?

Dig Deeper: Why does God choose to work through people to spread the gospel?

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:01

Hello, we're in day 25. Happy Friday. Our message today is sent to share the good news. And our passage is Romans chapter 10, verses 14 through 21. Our dig deeper questions today that we'll be discussing throughout the devotional are who in your life may need to hear about Jesus through you? And why does God choose to work through people to spread the gospel? Let's read our text. How then can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. But not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message? So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ. But I ask, did they not hear? Yes, they did. Their voice has gone out to the whole earth, and their words to the end of the world. But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses said, I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation, I will make you angry by a nation that lacks understanding. And Isaiah says boldly, I was found by those who were not looking for me. I revealed myself to those who were not asking for me. But to Israel he says, All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and defiant people. Let's get into our devotion. Paul now shifts from salvation itself to how people hear about it. And he asks a chain of questions. How can people call on Jesus if they don't believe? How can they believe if they haven't heard? And how can they hear without someone sharing? Paul is showing that the gospel moves through proclamation. God chooses to work through people. That's important because many believers think sharing faith is only for pastors or teachers. But the early church spread mostly through ordinary believers, friends, families, communities. And in Rome, Christians were a minority. They did not have power or influence. And remember that this is a culture where that mattered. Yet the gospel spread because people carried the message faithfully. Paul spends a lot of time in this passage quoting Old Testament passages to show that this was always God's plan. But he's honest too. Some rejected the message. And rejection doesn't always mean failure. Sometimes hearts resist the truth. That's why sharing the gospel is about faithfulness, not us controlling the outcome. Our role is not to save people. Only Jesus can do that. But our role is to witness and to point people toward him. I know that, especially for new Christians in the group, or maybe for people who are introverts, sharing the message can be daunting. And I just want to encourage you because so much of the way that people have been such a witness to me and how I have been a witness to God working through me and reaching other people has not been because of my life looking perfect, or because I am worthy enough, or because I know the Bible enough. I am doing this devotion with you all because I need to keep learning and be in the Word too. But it has come through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in me. And it has come through testimony. It has come through points in my life I can point to either my own failure or weakness, maybe difficult circumstances where I have seen God remarkably work in my life. And God will have his power displayed in you through your life. And all you need to be is a vessel. You don't need to be the one doing the work. Pray about it. The Holy Spirit will do the work through you. But do not be ashamed of the gospel. We're taking back to chapter one, baby. That's what Paul said, for I am not ashamed of the gospel. The gospel saves people. We should not be ashamed of it. We want to share the good news, and it is what we are commanded to do. So think about that. Think about someone today that you know probably needs to hear about Jesus. Or maybe throughout your day, just pray about it and say, God, if there's an opportunity, lead me. You will feel the tug at your heart when you know God is asking you to start sharing some good news. You are a light. You're a city on a hill. And you were made with purpose. Love you guys. Talk to you tomorrow. No, talk to you Monday. Woo! Enjoy your weekend. Bye.