Romans 10

This devotional is written by Trissie Coleshaw.

Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3 Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

5 Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: ‘The person who does these things will live by them.’ 6 But the righteousness that is by 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 deep?”’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? ‘The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,’ that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 if you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.’ 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile – the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’

16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed our message?’ 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. 18 But I ask: did they not hear? Of course they did:

‘Their voice has gone out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.’

19 Again I ask: did Israel not understand? First, Moses says,

‘I will make you envious by those who are not a nation;
I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.’

20 And Isaiah boldly says,

‘I was found by those who did not seek me;
I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.’

21 But concerning Israel he says,

‘All day long I have held out my hands
to a disobedient and obstinate people.’

One of the challenges we face as lifelong students of the Word of God, is reconciling the boundaries placed between some of our actions and the experience of God’s righteousness, with the truth of His abundant and limitless love. As the preeminent evangelist and author of half of the New Testament, Paul bears the brunt of this challenging dichotomy—as God would have him do—often in the corrective, disciplinary direction. But in Romans 10, he pulls no punches in making it clear that God has set His heart on restoring each and every one of us to peace in the safety of His love.

Paul’s own story is a radical testimony of redemption. As a persecutor and executioner of Christians, Paul was not the most obvious candidate for Divine intercession—not by conventional logic, at least. But, as he demonstrates in Romans 10, the generosity of God’s love defies human understanding: extending to His whole creation. God will gladly, as Paul says, save those who call upon His name, but so indiscriminate is His kindness that He courts not only the hearts of those who are obstinately opposed, but also those who aren’t even looking for Him!

Chances are that if you are engaging with Scripture through our reflections on Every Day With Matt, it is because somebody, somewhere in your life, once carried the message of the Gospel to you and nourished the seed of heavenly love that God planted in you in the Beginning. Indeed, Paul constantly reminds us of the privilege entrusted to us as Children of God: to carry the Word of hope to those who need to hear it—both unbelievers and believers alike. Before I started really listening to God’s call over my life, I was often baffled—or even annoyed—by the peace and contentment that I heard Christians express. But if truth be told, I was jealous, a feeling that in His loving mercy, God saw fit to harness and redeem—transforming it into the desire to experience for myself the love that only followers of Jesus can know. How delighted would the Lord be if we made everyone around us so envious of our joy and generosity of spirit, that upon hearing us explain that it is because Jesus is Lord of our lives, they too would dare to open their hearts to His love?!

As part of your daily gratitude practice, therefore, be sure to acknowledge that all the goodness in your life is evidence of God's eternal and indiscriminate love for you, and humbly remind yourself that this is also true for each and every one of us. Remember as you navigate your relationships and the challenges of the world around you, that God is gunning for absolutely everyone's hearts, and be fearless in reminding people of this truth. And most precious of all: remember that through your spreading of joy and kindness, and by His grace, you are a vital part of God’s plan to build His adoring and peaceful Kingdom on Earth. God sought you and chose you for this purpose, and will hold you tenderly through all things, forever.