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? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Romans 10:14-15
I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been complimented on the beauty of my feet. To be fair, Paul isn’t talking about the physical beauty of anyone’s physical feet. But really, that makes the message all the more significant. Especially in the time that this letter to the Romans was written, feet were not a pretty sight. Peoples’ feet were often very dirty from walking around and working in the dirt and dust wearing only sandals. Most peoples’ feet were far from beautiful. In fact, this is part of the reason that Jesus washing the feet of his apostles was so powerful.
So how does one get these “beautiful feet” that Paul talks about? The simple answer is by spreading the gospel. Just prior to these verses he says “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). In verse 14 he asks the rhetorical question, how can anyone call on his name if they don’t believe in Him? And how can they believe in someone that they’ve never heard of? And how will they ever hear about it if no one preaches it to them? The answer is that they won’t. They can’t hear the good news if no one preaches it. They can’t believe it if they’ve never heard it. They can’t call on the name of Jesus if they don’t believe in it. They can’t be saved if they can’t call on Him.
This devastating. It’s heartbreaking. There are people in the world that don’t know the truth of salvation through Jesus Christ, and they won’t be saved because they don’t know Him. As a Christian, this should be unacceptable. Paul went all around the ancient world desperate to tell the gospel to all who could hear it. He couldn’t stand the thought of anyone missing out on their salvation because he failed to share it with them.
He’s calling us to do the same. This scripture is a direct challenge to each and every one of us. There are people out there in this world who desperately need a savior, but don’t know about Him. There are people out there that think they know the truth, but they’ve missed the point. There are people out there that stand condemned because they haven’t believed in Jesus. It’s our job to change that.
How beautiful it is for that message to be delivered to a soul desperate for redemption. How beautiful it is to share the hope of Christ with a brother or sister. How joyful it is to see a lost sheep reunited with the flock. How beautiful are the feet of those who deliver this good news.
Prayer:
Father,
Thank you for the salvation that you freely give through Jesus. I thank you for granting me the great blessing of having heard the good news, and having been saved by it. I pray that you would use me to share this news with those who need it. Empower me to boldly proclaim Jesus to all who would hear me.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.
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