God Pause for Wednesday, 8/6/2014
/Luther Seminary God Pause
Wednesday, 8/6/2014 Reading: Romans 10:5-15
My ministry is in a coffee shop. As a mission developer my first task was to develop relationships with my neighbors. After the first weeks, I had still not ventured out. I would get this anxious feeling and then find other tasks that seemed more important. Finally I realized I had to come to terms with this issue. So I prayed for God to go first. "I'll open the door," I said, "but you go first." And God did. God paved the way and set the words I needed upon my lips and allowed me to bring God's Word of peace and welcome.
Rescue missions--as has been suggested earlier in this week's devotions--are about publicly speaking a word of peace. St. Paul reminds us in today's text that "The word of God is near you, on your lips and in your heart." In this act of believing the promise that Jesus is our Lord we are saved. Who doesn't need to hear this Good News? We are called not to decide who's saved or not, but to reach out to all people with God's saving love. It's on our lips and in our hearts. What else do we need?
God of Peace, give me the courage to speak your saving love. Amen.
Elizabeth Reinking Pastor and Mission Developer, The Bridge Market and Faith Community, St. Charles, Mo. Master of Divinity, 2013
Romans 10:5-15 (NRSV)
5 Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that "the person who does these things will live by them." 6 But the righteousness that comes from faith says, "Do not say in your heart, "Who will ascend into heaven?' " (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 "or "Who will descend into the abyss?' " (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. 11 The scripture says, "No one who believes in him will be put to shame." 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. 13 For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." 14 But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? 15 And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
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