Sunday, May 5, 2013 - 12:20 am

I read Romans 9 & 10 today, and I want to focus on Romans 10:13-15, "for, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' / How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? / And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!' " This brings a couple of points to mind. First, we as Christians can't be so focused on ourselves that we ignore the world around us. Our attitude should be the same as God's attitude, as seen in 2 Peter 3:9, "...not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." Who have we given up on? Who would we rather not share God's love with for fear they will laugh? Do our words and actions really show that we want everyone to call on the name of the Lord and be saved? That's something we can all work on, to become more godly. The second point is somewhat related to the first. We are encouraged to preach in this passage, yet our culture tells us to leave people alone, to never preach, to never do anything which might call their way of thinking into question, because that would be intolerant. Where would we be if everyone always had to be tolerant of us, no one questioned our selfish thinking, and as a result we never saw our need for Christ? I would rather have joy, hope, peace and love than mere tolerance. When someone's soul is at stake, and their very life hangs in the balance, love demands definitive action, however intolerant it may seem. That's another area I could certainly work on. Let's speak the truth in love, as Ephesians 4:15 says.