One morning during breakfast together, Stan mentioned that he had been talking with a neighbor about what the apostle Paul wrote concerning people being saved by calling on the name of the Lord. I asked Stan what they had talked about.
“Why Paul hadn’t asked another question,” Stan replied with a smile.
“Another question? How so?”
“Well,” Stan said, “as you may or may not remember, after Paul wrote that people can be saved by calling on the name of the Lord, he wrote a series of questions about how they can call on Him if they don’t believe, and then how can they believe if they haven’t heard, and how can they hear unless someone tells them, and how can someone tell them if they’re not sent.”
“At that point,” he continued, “is where my neighbor wondered why Paul didn’t ask the next question.”
“What next question?”
“How,” Stan responded with a smile, “can they be sent if they don’t go.”
“Oh,” I said, “that’s kind of like where Jesus said to go and make disciples, but if people are sent and don’t go, that won’t happen. Right?”
“Right you are, my friend,” Stan replied. “How can they be sent if they don’t go?”
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Bible verses to consider:
. . . whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Romans 10:13-15.
Go therefore and make disciples . . . . Matthew 28:19-20.
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life eternally with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity I don’t go anywhere to tell anyone about the gospel so they will be saved. Please forgive that foolishness. Help me follow every step of your lead in going to help others be saved. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Are you saved because you have called upon the name of the Lord? If no, why do you choose to remain separated from God both now and forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption how are you doing with going and helping others to be saved? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?
The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know you need to not only be saved, but to help others call upon the name of the Lord so they are saved? Spend time studying God’s word, praying, reflecting, and journaling about this to see what God knows you need. He will show you!
Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?