Thursday the 10th

Romans 10: ¹⁴ 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? ¹⁵ And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

 

Paul outlines the problem that many have in this Country today. How can they believe if they have not heard? As I see my children grow, and I listen to their desire, and the desire of their friends to leave behind religion, while clinging tightly to faith, I realize……there are a lot of people who have not heard…..they have not heard the truth anyway. They have heard that “you can’t dress this way”, “you can’t do this, and you can’t do that”, and “you can’t listen to that”, and “you have to do this”. “You have to be here, wear this, say this phrase exactly as you have been taught, and stay here for this long”……..You see they have heard the religion…….but they have not heard the Faith. They have heard the rules, but they have not heard the true full story of the loving, saving, undeserved, yet freely given gift that is Jesus Christ……and how can they, if no one is preaching it? We have a very real risk of becoming just like the Jewish leaders in the time of Christ. We become so focused on the “laws” that we miss the savior. Where the Jews of the day were so immersed in the law that they could not recognize Christ. Many today as so immersed in the Law, that they confuse the law with the way to Christ. They start to believe that the Law is not a way to show our love for God, but it is the way in and of itself to get to the Lord. So how do we change that? How do we keep the fire of Christ burning above the law for all to see? Well I am glad you asked, because that is where you come in! How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news! What good news? The good news of the risen King! The good news of salvation that has been secured by the death and resurrection of Jesus. Take that message, and run with it! Each one of us is called to preach on some level. Yes, even you. It is up to us to not just fellowship in our churches where we feel safe.  Those feet are bringing the good news…that means they are traveling! How can we fight the over legalization of our faith, how can we fight against the false prophets, who preach for their personal gain, how can we impact the world, if we refuse to leave our houses, Churches, and neighborhoods? There are many out there that cannot believe because they have not heard. They have heard what they can’t do, let us tell them what they can. They have seen what they are to fear, let us show them what the reward is, they have felt the sting of hypocrisy, and scorn, let us show them the love, the forgiveness, the grace, and the peace that is Jesus Christ. To quote St. Francis of Assisi, Preach the Gospel, use words if necessary. Show them, show the world, and let them be drawn to the Good news that you carry.

 

 

God Bless,

Brian Thetford

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www.thenewcovenantchurch.com

 

www.theworkweekwithchrist.blogspot.com