"And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be delivered." (Joel 2:32)
When you find yourself in a predicament, what do you usually do first? We sit down and figure it out and come up with a plan. We run to our family, or to our friends, and we cry "Help". The reality is the one who is able to help us is waiting on us to call on him.
Notice the scope of this promise. "Everyone" who calls. It is not limited to the rich or the knowledgeable. It is open to any who will sincerely and genuined call on God. And notice the certainty of this promise. It does not say might be delivered, but it says, "Will" be delivered."
In Romans 10, Paul quotes this passage in relationship to salvation from sin and into new life in Christ. Let me raise this question. If we can trust God to save us from an eternity in a devil's hell, which is what our sins deserve, then why in the world are we so reluctant to trust Him with every other matter in our lives? Let me encourage you today, whatever you are facing, cry out to the Lord for help. He is listening for your call.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Are Your Feet Beautiful?
"How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news?" (Ro. 10:15)
Last night we were walking across the parking lot at Target and my 13 year old daughter looked down at my feet in flip flops and boldly declared, "Dad, you sure have ugly feet." So I asked her,
"How can you say that?" She said, "They are scarred and hairy, and just old." We both laughed.
I am reading a book on missions for a class I am taking this summer and this morning I read a debate about whether someone who has never heard the gospel can be saved. The old hypothetical, what about a lost heathen on a remote island who never hears and never has an opportunity to hear. Can they be saved? I certainly trust a loving God with the decisions that He makes about that. But let me ask a more important question of those of us who are followers of Jesus. If we never make an effort to tell them the Good News, can we really be saved?
On a trip into our village in West Africa last year one of the leaders in the church there complained of his feet hurting. As we looked at them we saw large sores on the bottom that looked to be indicative of parasites. But as I saw the calloused and pocketed with sores feet, I was reminded of this verse in Romans. "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Gospel."
This African believer had been walking a couple of times every week to villages as far as15 to 20 miles away to share the Good News. With tears in my eyes I prayed for this man's feet that he might be able to continue to share with those who have not yet heard. What will you do today to tell others about the Good News of Jesus Christ? Are your feet beautiful in God's eyes?
Last night we were walking across the parking lot at Target and my 13 year old daughter looked down at my feet in flip flops and boldly declared, "Dad, you sure have ugly feet." So I asked her,
"How can you say that?" She said, "They are scarred and hairy, and just old." We both laughed.
I am reading a book on missions for a class I am taking this summer and this morning I read a debate about whether someone who has never heard the gospel can be saved. The old hypothetical, what about a lost heathen on a remote island who never hears and never has an opportunity to hear. Can they be saved? I certainly trust a loving God with the decisions that He makes about that. But let me ask a more important question of those of us who are followers of Jesus. If we never make an effort to tell them the Good News, can we really be saved?
On a trip into our village in West Africa last year one of the leaders in the church there complained of his feet hurting. As we looked at them we saw large sores on the bottom that looked to be indicative of parasites. But as I saw the calloused and pocketed with sores feet, I was reminded of this verse in Romans. "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Gospel."
This African believer had been walking a couple of times every week to villages as far as15 to 20 miles away to share the Good News. With tears in my eyes I prayed for this man's feet that he might be able to continue to share with those who have not yet heard. What will you do today to tell others about the Good News of Jesus Christ? Are your feet beautiful in God's eyes?
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