David Bahn – Reflections

Romans 10:13-17

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Do you know someone who desperately needs to believe in God; struggling with life and with God? I know of such a one, (I’ll call her Jenny) and my heart goes out to her. I pray for Jenny. I yearn for her healing in Jesus. I’m not certain what that healing would look like; there seems to be a mountain of challenges laid against her: financial, emotional, employment, relational. I’m not even certain how to help her. For Jenny the issue seems to be one of surrender. She has heard of God, of Christ, and has even been baptized. But as I consider her situation, she seems totally lost. And the reason for this lostness has little to do with knowing in the sense of head knowledge, and much in the sense of the surrender of repentance. That surrender is a matter of faith. Somehow she needs to hear the word of God and embrace it in her heart to “repent and believe the good news” (Mark 1:15).

Then there is Ali. He runs a dry cleaners where I recently took my pulpit gown for cleaning before Easter. I asked him about whether he celebrated Easter, and he said no. He is a Muslim. I asked him about special celebrations this time of year and he spoke of the observance of Ramadan (which begins June 28 this year). He confided that he does not observe Ramadan – especially the requirement that no drink is consumed between sunrise and sunset – not even water!

I hope to find a way to talk with Ali during Ramadan about the faith in Jesus which I embrace. While there are significant implications of believing in Jesus, and obedience is certainly an outcome of our relationship with God through Christ, the Christian faith is not about doing things to be right with God, but about celebrating all that God has done for us.

Jenny needs to surrender to Christ’s call, not to gain God’s love, but to experience and embrace the life he has for her. Ali needs to learn of God’s love for him and all people, and the freedom we have in Christ. In either case God’s word is the only means by which faith will come. I’m praying for opportunities to share that word with these dearly loved people.

PS: I need to say this for my own benefit… I’ve started a rather challenging physical exercise routine. Part of that has to do with a new practice of getting out every morning for a walk or a workout in the gym. That has cut into my time for quiet reflection in the early morning. For that reason I’ve not published my blog posts for a couple of weeks. Today is an exception; I am spending the first 90 minutes (got up very early!) in the old way of easing into the day. What’s the conclusion of all this? I’m not certain. I need to get moving in the morning, and I need this time for reflection as well.

Romans 10:1-17

Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness based on 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, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, 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 with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.