Monday 31 December 2007

How shall they hear?

“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” - Romans 10v14

We already know that Paul had an incredible burden to see his people saved. We already know that salvation comes through believing and calling on the Lord? We already know that it is an invitation open to all. Fine then, but how does all this start happening?

How can they call if the don’t believe? How can they believe if they have never heard? How can they hear unless somebody tells them?

Paul uses the word “preacher” and we might think by that word that he is talking about the pastor, the evangelist, or the missionary. They all are to do that, but that is not the limit. The word simply means a proclaimer, and in this case a proclaimer of the gospel..

When we see it that way the passage applies to each of us. Every single one of us can be a proclaimer. Faith comes by hearing. Hearing comes from the word of God, the gospel.

Who are going to be the proclaimers in 2008 so that they can be the hearers?

2 comments:

Scott Bandy said...

By God's grace - I will. The Lord used this passage in LeAnn's heart when He called us to Ireland. What a task - what a God who calls each and every one of us to "preach."

Candi said...

I heard a great testimony last night. I was listening to a friend tell about her sister who recently "passed on" to her new life. Her last words were to her doctor, a Jewish non-believer, about his need for Christ. She asked for only her immediate family at the graveside service. Get this - she had prepared booklets for the men who would put the dirt in her grave to thank them for their ministry to her family and to give them the gospel. Now that is a preacher!