Irvin Wasswa- Tylertown Campus Pastor LHBC

Romans 10:9-17
9 Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 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!”16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

For my friends and I, Thursdays in college were the best days of the week. The reason is because on Thursday evenings in the food court on campus was Chick-Fil-A and Panda Express night. One Thursday night, I was in my room and a few of the roommates went out to grab something to eat. When they arrived back, they brought back five chick-fil-a sandwiches a piece! I asked them why they had bought so many and they mentioned to me that they had a 5 for 1 deal going on there that evening. The food court was trying to get rid of sandwiches and sold each of the guys five sandwiches for the price of one. When I heard this news, I couldn’t believe it. I told them, “You went to Chick-Fil-A and found out about this deal and didn’t let me know? Why didn’t you tell me?” They had no response. To make matters worse, none of them shared one sandwich with me! Tragic! I remember thinking that day that if they truly cared for me, they would’ve called me and let me know about the great news regarding this insane deal.

I have got some news for you friend, there are many people around you at this moment I believe if they die and are lost will be wondering the same question in hell: You Didn’t Tell Me? “You knew Jesus Christ and you didn’t tell me that He died for me?” You went to church and you didn’t invite me?” Romans chapter 10 highlights the greatest news for mankind: THE MESSAGE OF SALVATION IS FOR ALL. No matter one’s background, skin color or how broken they are, the message that Jesus died and rose again to save is for all who repent and trust in Him as Lord and Savior (Romans 10:13). Here is the deal though, those who are lost need to know that the message is for them. In verses 14-17, the apostle Paul engages the reader by asking two more questions: How will the lost know unless they hear about it? and How will they hear about it unless someone shares with them? Here is the reality, we are the mouthpieces of God to the lost, letting them know that Jesus loves them and that they died for them. If you are in Christ, you have been called to be on mission for Him (Matthew 28:19-20; John 20:21) and God has called you to be the “preacher” to your coworker, your workout partner, your child, your neighbor. The Lord has called you to reach out and invite those people in your sphere of influence to church and to Christ.

I know it may seem as though it is a daunting task but listen: YOU CAN DO IT! You have all that you need in the Lord to step out and live a life as a witness for Him. Take these thoughts into consideration:

  1. Be Bold- Proverbs 28:1b tells us that the righteous are as bold as lions. In Christ, we have been made righteous so boldness in Him is in our DNA. So the call is to step in that. We have the Holy Spirit living inside of us. Pray that the Lord reminds you of that boldness you have, that He fills you with His Holy Spirit and choose to step out.
  2. Be Real- You may not be a theologian or know the Bible cover to cover but if you have a relationship with Jesus, you have a Gospel Story of how you were lost but Jesus saved you when you turned from your sins and trusted in Him. Start by sharing your Gospel story and how the Gospel has changed you. 
  3. When We Share, we have Beautiful Feet- There is no greater news in the world than the Gospel. That is why Paul says for those who share it, they have beautiful feet. 

Will you share? Will you invite? Will you choose to have beautiful feet? I don’t know about you but I do not want to have people in hell one day asking that question: “You didn’t tell me?” because I was too nervous to step out and invite my neighbor to church, or too scared to have a conversation with that friend. We can do it! Let’s choose to be light for Jesus and share the greatest news with those who are around us!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Dear Heavenly Father Lord, thank you for your love for me! Thank you that you sent your Son to die for the sins of the world! Give me a heart to care for the lost all around me, and a boldness to step up and invite them to Christ and the Church. Lord, help me to be real and share the hope of Jesus with someone this week. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
Psalm 119:18
Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.