Reading: Romans
10:8b-13
This reading is one of those passages that one could
meditate on over-and-over again always gaining some encouragement, empowerment,
and other gifts such as the Spirit of God gives.
God is near. He draws near to us in his word. He is
always giving and strengthening faith, guiding us into confession, forgiving
our sins, and delivering the power of Jesus’ resurrection into our lives
through the Scriptures.
This power of the word works in two directions. It works
inward as we believe in our hearts. The life of faith springs up in the soil of
human hearts. As that faith lives and grows it works outward as we confess our
faith and hope in Jesus with our mouths. This is actually essential. Our lives
and actions certainly serve as testimony about our faith and hope, but
eventually we must speak of Jesus and his salvation if others are to hear and
believe.
We will not be put to shame. Shame is a powerful tool in
our enemy’s arsenal. Shame silences us, to ruins our confidence, and makes us
question God’s love for us. (How could he possibly love such a shameful person
like me?) Here is where we must ask why we will not be put to shame. Our belief
receives Jesus’ righteousness. Our confession receives (and proclaims!) his salvation.
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
How has the belief in Jesus that is in your heart and the
salvation you have confessed with your mouth impacted your life? Has shame ever
impacted your life of faith? How does the message of Jesus’ forgiveness impact
shame?
O Holy Spirit, you
work through the word drawing near, creating faith, and empowering us to
confess Jesus’ salvation. Thank you for working in our hearts to create the
belief that receives Jesus’ righteousness. Thank you for working in our mouths
to produce the confession of Jesus’ salvation. Too often we make ourselves
responsible for the burden of creating faith in others, and we feel that we
must come up with the right words to share the hope we have in Christ with our
neighbors. Those are both your work, so please do your work in our hearts and
in our mouths to establish us firmly in the faith and to spread the hope of God’s
salvation with our neighbors. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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