Scripture

But how will they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how will they believe in him if they have never heard of him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?

Observation

The Lord has promised that everyone who calls on the Lord will be saved. But they cannot call on the Lord if they haven’t heard the promise, and that means that somebody has to have told them. Even that presupposes that somebody has sent the messenger.

Not everybody welcomes the Good News. Faith comes through hearing, but some will hear but not receive it. Even though God greets us with open arms, some people remain rebellious and disobedient.

Application

All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. First we have to hear the message of salvation. This means that, mostly, somebody has to go and preach the message. That places the responsibility on local churches to send missionaries and evangelists to people who have not yet heard the Good News.

There are people who are called to go to distant places and foreign cultures to be full-time missionaries. Others are gifted as evangelists and fill that ministry whether locally or as itinerants.

The most effective evangelism happens as ordinary christians share their faith at work, at home or at leisure locations such as the pub, gym or whatever. Ian Robinson calls this “Gossiping The Gospel,” which is a wonderful expression of allowing Jesus into our every day conversations.

Churches have to be sending agents, allowing and equipping members to be witnesses of the gospel in the 167 hours a week that are not church.

We can sit around and complain about the sad state of civilisation, or we can do something about it by instigating a gospel- led recovery, sharing with one person at a time.

Prayer

Thank you, Father, for the Good News that changes lives. Please help me to share you with my friends every day. Amen.