Gospel Shoes (Romans 10:14-15)
Romans 10:14-15, 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? 15And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Billy Scholl was born on June 22, 1882 in La Porte, Indiana as one of 13 children. As a boy he showed an interest in shoes. He liked working with leather and made harnesses for the family farm's horses. He repaired and made shoes for twelve brothers and sisters. In response to his interests, Billy's parents apprenticed him to a local cobbler at the age of sixteen. One year later, he went to Chicago to work as a cobbler and shoe salesman. The number of foot ailments he encountered concerned Billy. The big city and the fast pace of modern times were rough on feet. Customers suffered from bunions, corns, and fallen arches. Billy saw a huge need, and decided to become the "foot doctor to the world." He enrolled in the Illinois Medical College, and by the time he had graduated in 1904, he had patented his first invention, an arch support called the Foot-Eazer. Billy opened his own store and began producing arch supports for other shoe stores. To sell his product, he would go to a shoe store and pull a skeleton of a human foot out of his bag. He would then proceed to explain the ailments of the foot to the proprietor and inevitably take an order for his product. For more than sixty years, Billy personally promoted his own products with flair and enthusiasm. He established a correspondence course for shoe clerks and hired consultants to criss-cross the country, giving lectures on foot-care products. Billy Scholl's enthusiastic dedication to good foot care and his endurance as an able spokesman has made his (Dr. Scholl) name a household word. The Message of the Preacher (Romans 10:14) The world cannot be saved apart from the Gospel. "Whosoever" refers to the whole world. But a person has to "call" in order to be saved. A person cannot "call upon the name of the Lord" unless he has heard about the Lord. That is the condition that cries for preachers to go into the world to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the Gospel has to be carried to the whole world. The Mission of the Preacher (Romans 10:15) Christ’s first word from His Great Commission was to “Go.” If we refuse to go, some will never hear the Gospel, and we will be in direct disobedience to Jesus Christ. Paul made a clear case for the crucial importance of everyone who is involved in the work of God in reaching the lost with the Gospel. We don't usually think of feet as being beautiful. Do you think your feet are beautiful feet? Feet are beautiful when they are the feet of one who brings the Good News, the Gospel. As we go through our daily routines, we are to live lives that enable us to make disciples. We don't need to be sent by a mission organization; we have already been sent by Jesus. In reality, we are Jesus' feet. In order for people to hear and receive the message of Jesus, someone has to tell them about Him. This starts with someone who cares enough to communicate Christ’s message. Too often, Christ’s Great Commission will not even be communicated fully enough to people in foreign countries unless Christians send and support those whom God has called to deliver His message to these people and places. Those who help to send others are fulfilling a key role in introducing people to Christ. We all can participate in spreading the Word to those who have not yet heard about Jesus. Gospel tracts, books, Christian literature, and witnessing are all used by God to reach people for Christ. It is tragic that almost 95% of professing Christians never tell others about Christ. It's up to us. The souls of the world are our responsibility. We are not responsible for their decision to accept or reject salvation, but we are responsible to share the Gospel with them. It's the reason we are still on earth. God could have taken us to Heaven immediately when we got saved and given the responsibility to share the Gospel to the angels, but He wants us to be His messengers. You have heard the Gospel message today. If you have never called upon the Lord for salvation. I would encourage you to come today. Jesus died for your sin and He wants to save you today! Why not come and be saved? Questions to Consider: Who can you witness to and share the Gospel message with today? When will you do it? How beautiful are your feet? Do you pray for God to show you who He wants you to tell about Him? Are you looking for those that don’t know Christ? Points to Ponder: The world needs to hear about Jesus Christ. God uses people to reach people. We are His feet and His messengers. The Gospel must be preached before it can be believed. The Gospel must be believed before it can save. PRAYER: Father in Heaven, thank You for bringing me to a saving faith in Your Son, Jesus Christ. That is the best thing that has ever happened in my life. Forgive me for not sharing this Good News with others on a regular basis. Bring people into my life that I can tell about Your amazing love. In Jesus Name, AMEN! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com
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Joy of Justification (Romans 3:24)
Romans 3:24, Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Two brothers were spending their Saturday doing their chores, when the younger brother accidently knocked over a can of paint saturating most of the garage floor. When the older brother witnessed it, he told the younger brother, he would not tell their father if the younger brother mowed the lawn from now on. The younger brother was at first reluctant, but agreed. After a week the younger brother told his older brother that he would no longer mow the lawn. The older brother was quick to remind his younger brother of the agreement and that he would go to their father immediately. The younger brother said with joy, “Fine! I have already told dad, and he forgave me.” Justification is the redemptive act of Jesus Christ at Calvary, whereby He declares the repentant and believing sinner free of all guilt and entitled to all the blessings and responsibilities of the kingdom. Justification is that spiritual blessing whereby God removes the filthy garments of our own "good" works, pays the debt of our sins, and argues our case as defense attorney, with the resulting verdict—not guilty, entirely by the grace of Jesus Christ. If the judge acquits me, who can condemn me? If the highest court in the universe has pronounced me just, who shall lay anything to my charge? God has already announced the verdict; the person who has faith in Jesus stands acquitted. Now, we are declared righteous by the One to whom there is no further appeal (Romans 5). There are several reasons being justified brings a believer joy. Here are three.
2. Justification cancels out our enormous debt that we would never be able to pay. Again, imputation means a debt is owed; one is unable to pay, but the debt is satisfied when another steps in and pays the account on behalf of the debtor. If you will go to the LORD and take Christ’s righteousness (which is perfect) He will accredit it to your account. So, when you stand before God, you will stand before God as though you have never sinned. Not because your sinless, but because of your account. 3. Justification clothes us with robes of righteousness (I Peter 2:22; II Corinthians 5:21). Jesus Christ does not only deliver us from the pollution of sin by cleansing us; but God placed your sin upon Christ on the cross. Jesus placed your sins on His account and clothed you with His righteousness. So that when you stand before the Father, He will see you as justified. The Canadian Ironman competition involves a 3.8 km swim, followed by an 180 km cycle, and ending with the traditional 42 km marathon run. The Ironman competition however, is not just a physical fitness competition, but a battle of the mind. In the race, all of a racer's self-doubts and inner demons rise to the surface, especially if a competitor doesn't know his or her own strengths and weaknesses. Among the mental tricks that helps competitors when the "babble" comes up is known as "treeing." If a negative thought comes up it is often hard to switch it to a positive. The competitors run up to trees, touch it and thus, give the negative emotions to the tree. The "babble" settles down and they are able to continue on. When we become a Christian, we "tree" our sin. We touch the cross and the Saviour that hung there; giving Him our sin and guilt, and taking from him His righteousness. God is a holy God. He hates sin with infinite hatred. He will not look upon the smallest sin with the least bit of allowance, but God is also a God of pardoning love. He stands ready to pardon the vilest sinner. He is always calling to men and women who have sinned: ‘Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.’ (Isaiah 55:7). There are those that think they have sinned too deeply to ever find pardon, but it is not so. There is no depth of sin to which a person can go, to where God in His loving mercy won’t abundantly pardon that person, if they’ll acknowledge their guilt of sin and turn to the Lord by faith for forgiveness. Prayer: LORD, thank You for being the God that justifies. Thank You for Your gift of forgiveness of all my sins. Help me to live like someone who is truly clean and forgiven! In Jesus’ name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com |
AuthorDr. Blackman is passionate about helping others grow in the grace of the Lord. His devotions are centered on how to grow closer to the Lord through a personal relationship with Christ. Archives
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