READING: Romans 8-11
This devotion will be quite simple, but I also trust it will be challenging (and convicting, as it is to me even as I write it). In a series of questions in Romans 10, Paul directs the reader to necessities in our work of the Great Commission (Matt 28:18-20)—necessities for both the one who proclaims the gospel and the one who receives it. Here are those questions, followed by the challenge: “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” (Rom 10:14-15).
It’s really quite simple: people need to hear the gospel to call on God for salvation; they cannot hear that message if no one speaks it; thus, God sends people to do the speaking. For 4 billion+ people in the world, however, they have no or few voices bringing the gospel to them. They wait in darkness while we sometimes linger in our prestige and power. My prayer for all my readers today is that we would (1) pray daily for folks in the battle, and (2) be open to the possibility of God’s calling any of us to the nations.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Have you ever struggled with a call to missions?
PRAYER: “Father, clarify my calling and strengthen my faith.
TOMORROW’S READING: Romans 12-16, 1 Corinthians 1