Jessica Albritton, NextGen Minister LHBC
Romans 10:13-15
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 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!”
Several years back a trend started of picking a word for the new year. The idea is to pick a word that resonates, something meaningful, that you that you can focus on for the year.
Around Christmas the girls in my lifegroup decided to jump on the bandwagon and each pick a word for ourselves. After we all picked our words one of the girls lettered them on a personalized bookmark for each of us as a reminder to reflect on the word throughout the year. I’ll be honest, life got a little crazy at the beginning of 2020 and I hadn’t given much thought to my word after I picked it. But the other day I picked up my bookmark and laughed out loud as I began to think about the irony of the word I had chosen for myself. I picked the word READY… The thought behind it came from a desire to be ready for whatever was next.
Well, I think I can confidently say that no one was ready for 2020. Between an almost world war, Australia being ingulfed in flames, drone strikes, Impeachment trials, stock markets plunging, COVID wreaking havoc, murder hornets, and civic unrest abounding around every corner, no one could have been prepared for all that this year has brought us. As I was reflecting on all that’s happened I came to a passage in Romans chapter 10. Verse 13 gives a beautiful promise that all who call upon the name of Jesus will be saved.
It’s amazing at how simple the truth of the gospel is. The good news is that everyone, regardless of race, creed, sex, or social status has been offered the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. The passage goes on to ask how someone might come to accept Jesus if they never hear the message of the gospel. How will those that don’t know Jesus come to know Him and respond to His gift unless they are told? Verse 15 answers that question in this way, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” As I read the passage I couldn’t help but to think about Ephesians 6 where Paul tells believers to put on the full armor of God, one piece being shoes representing the readiness of the gospel.
We truly can’t be ready for all that life brings. None was ready for COVID or protests, dust storms or fire, and quite frankly we won’t be ready for the next crisis of this world, but we can always be ready to share the message of salvation! We can share the good news that Jesus offers forgiveness and life eternal to all those that call on His name!
In January I wanted to be ready for all that life threw at me, now I just want to be ready to share the gospel and to be the hands and feet of Jesus whenever an opportunity arises. Who wants to be ready with me?
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Heavenly Father, help me to have eyes to see those around me that need to know you. Give me boldness to always be ready to share the good news of the gospel with a lost and broken world. In Jesus name, amen!
MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
Hebrews 6:19
We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain.