Proper 14 (19)
August 10, 2008
Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28; Psalm 105: 1-6, 16-22, 45; Romans 10:5-15; Matthew 14:22-33
Ah! Faith — both of the New Testament readings focus on faith or perhaps a lack of faith. The Romans passage I know is one of Pam’s favorites, especially this part.
9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” 12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
Paul states, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved.” Sometimes we try to make salvation so complicated. Tonight, I plan on presenting a simple plan of salvation at our Vacation Bible School closing program. What we have seen above is a great portion of the gospel. I love the reassurance in this passage that salvation is for everyone. “Christ died once and for all” as the old WhiteHeart song goes.
But this passage not only outlines a simple plan of salvation, but also encouragement for believers to go and tell. How will everyone hear, unless we tell them? We must go and tell them!
Perhaps you are like Peter in the Matthew account. Some give Peter a hard time for sinking in the water and yes, he did lack some faith out on the water. I’m reminded of a story that Dana Key tells on the “No Turning Back” 2 CD live set. He reminded the crowd that Peter was the only one willing to get out of the boat. Peter was willing to leave the relative safety of the boat and join Jesus in the storm. Are you willing to be like Peter? Are you willing to step out, even when no one else is willing? How will they hear, unless we tell them — Step out today!
