Here I Am, Lord
BRD REFLECTIONS
(Eric Ang, Asst Treasurer, LCEC)
READ:
Romans 10 (NIV)
OBSERVE:
“Membership has its privileges. Don’t leave home without it.” This is the familiar tagline used by Amex to promote its credit card. Its membership, however, is not for everyone and it’s not free.
Scripture reminds us in Romans 10 that regardless of who we are, our faith in Christ is the only membership we need. The same Lord is Lord of all (v12). It has privileges that surpass all privileges put together — whoever believes will never be put to shame (v11), will be richly blessed (v12) and will be saved (v13). Best of all, this membership is free to whoever wants it.
So how can we become a member? Paul tells us that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. We need to confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead (v9). We need our heart to believe and our mouth to profess our faith. Only then are we justified and saved (v10).
Paul tells us that there are 3 groups of people: the believers, the non-believers and the pre-believers. Paul wants us to focus on the pre-believers who have not heard the Gospel. He asked the following questions on their behalf:
1. How can anyone call on Jesus unless he first believes in Him?
2. How will anyone believe in Jesus if he has not heard about Him?
3. How will anyone hear about Jesus if nobody preaches the gospel to him?
4. And how will anyone preach the gospel of Jesus unless he is sent by someone to do so?
There are various steps to lead the pre-believers to faith in Christ and the first step is to find and send the preacher. So who is the preacher? Where can we find these people with beautiful feet (v15)?
Look no further as we are all commissioned by God to be preachers of the good news (see Ephesians 4:11-16). Sharing the word of Christ is a responsibility of all believers.
APPLY:
I must learn from the mistakes of the Jews. Many a time I am like the Jews, believing that I am doing the right thing for God when I am actually motivated by self-actualisation. This always happens when I seek a compromise using logic. I need to always remember that it is the righteousness of God that matters.
The zeal for God without knowledge is clearly worthless as it is misdirected zeal. It is good for me to have zeal but it must be based on truth and for Christ.
God’s grace is extended to everyone who has faith in him, not just a select group. I must therefore not be selective in choosing who to share the Gospel with.
The blessing of God is through faith. To have faith means to believe in Christ. Before someone can believe, he must first hear the word about Christ. I must therefore proactively initiate rather than wait to be approached.
DO:
How can I share the Good News and make sure it is heard? Here is my do list that I hope will make me more intentional:
1. Pray for them.
2. Make sure they hear. Sharing my own stories may help.
3. Start with people I know – family, friends, colleagues…
4. Look out for opportunities.
5. There will be opposition along the way from people who hear but reject the truth. I will not let this discourage me but press on as our gracious God wants to save all including the disobedient and obstinate.
6. Last but not least, I must remember that calling on the Lord is a continuous calling.
The Lord wants me to keep calling on Him and I do so by constantly praying to Him.
PRAY:
Heavenly Father, we call on the name of Jesus. He is Lord and You have indeed raised Him from the dead. We pray for strength and courage as You send us out as Your preachers to proclaim the good news of Your love and saving grace. In Jesus’ most precious name we pray, Amen.
