"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 they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" (Romans 10:14-15)

The good news is not just good news, its great news. The nuance of the Greek for the word gospel literally means that this news is 'almost too good to be true'. In our world when something seems too good to be true, it usually is. But this is not the case with the gospel of Jesus Christ. This news is true and incredible. And Paul reminds us that beautiful are the feet of those who bring this good news and announce it to the world.

Throughout the book of Romans, Paul refers to the gospel as his gospel. This is because this revelation came directly to him by Jesus. He said in Galatians, "I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ" ( Galatians 1:11-12 ). Paul wrote so extensively about the gift of God's grace offered to mankind through the person of Jesus Christ that he claimed this gospel as his own. He lived and breathed this message because it was the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes ( Romans 1:16 ). Paul was set apart, called and ordained to be a minister of the gospel by the will of God. This is an amazing thing when you realize that before his conversion he literally hunted and killed Christians. He considered himself the chief of sinners but after he experienced God's incredible grace and mercy he knew that this good news wasn't too good to be true, that is why he said "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" ( Romans 10:13 ).

In today's passage Paul is reminding us that this news has to be passed on and received before its power is released. People cannot look to Jesus for eternal life if they don't believe in him. They can't believe in him unless they have heard about him and they can't hear about him unless someone tells them. People need to be sent before anyone can call upon the name of the Lord and find salvation. This may seem like a quandary but to use a baseball metaphor; the bases are loaded. God has sent messengers of the gospel forth to preach the good news throughout the entire world. We merely have to step up to the plate and start swinging.

The first thing to consider is that this gospel message originated with God. John said, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him" ( John 3:16-17 ). God sent his Son Jesus to save the world. This is the good news for which Paul was in chains. God initiated and provided the means whereby we can be reconciled to him. Sin stood in the way, but God sent Jesus to bridge the gap. Paul said in Corinthians, "All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation" ( II Corinthians 5:18-19 ). God was the one speaking peace over the world through the blood of Christ. He sent Jesus to save the world. His feet were beautiful!

Secondly, after Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins and was raised again to life to secure our justification before God, he then turned around and sent us to spread this message of reconciliation. We call this the great commission. "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." ( Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-18 ). He won back all the authority and power that was transferred to Satan in the fall, and look what he did, He gave it back to us. He commissioned us to be the beautiful feet that preached the good news around the world. 

What an remarkable thing this is. God has entrusted us with the words of life. We have the power over death through the blood of Jesus and we have been equipped and assigned to share this wonderful news with the world. Paul said, this news was "the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes" ( Romans 1:16 ). We are entrusted with an tremendous thing. God trusts and believes in us to fulfill this great commission. Isaiah said, "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" ( Isaiah 52:7 ). What an incredible thing to share with those around us. God's peace towards mankind, his love for us, his gift of grace and his overwhelming mercy. We have the words that bring life and Jesus has placed His faith in us to share it. Paul said, "Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ" ( Romans 10:17 ). The Messiah of reconciliation came from the very lips of Christ himself. God was not holding mankind's sins against them and He came to bring us peace with God. It's almost too good to be true but the fact remains that it is true and God calls our feet beautiful because he has sent us to proclaim this message.

Like Paul, I know that this gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. I am a minister of this good news and I will proclaim it for the rest of my days. May you understand your calling in this wonderful plan of salvation. May you share the hope to which you were called. May your feet be beautiful, amen!

"As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile-the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Romans 10:11-13)

What an amazing truth! Throughout life we face many disappointments and discouragements because of situations and people, but Paul said that anyone who trusts in Jesus will never be put to shame. The Amplified Bible puts it like this, "No man who believes in Him [who adheres to, relies on, and trusts in Him] will [ever] be put to shame or be disappointed" ( Romans 10:11 ). Meaning with Jesus you will never be disappointed in the abundant life he provides for you. Jesus said in John 10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" ( John 10:10 ). The life he offers doesn't start when we get to heaven, this abundant life starts right now.

This is a message of grace. This is an important truth to meditate on and believe with all your heart. When we place our hope in Jesus we won't be disappointed.This is a theme throughout the entire Bible and is important to grasp. God reminded the Israelites over and over to trust in him and put their confidence in him. David said, "The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him" ( Psalm 34:22 ). By placing our faith in Jesus we will never face judgment. More than that, Jeremiah said, "blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him" ( Jeremiah 17:7 ). By placing our confidence and trust in Him we are blessed. He went on to say, "He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit" ( Jeremiah 17:8 ). By placing our confidence in the Lord we do not have to worry about anything. If the economy is bad then we needn't worry about it, we are in God's economy. It doesn't matter if rain hasn't come, we simply tap into the water source and flourish. The Lord is able to richly bless us and make all grace abound in our lives simply because he loves us and we put our trust in him.

This passage is an amazing glimpse into the heart of God. It shows that God does not choose us based on our nationality, our heritage, the color of our skin or any other criteria. Paul said in Romans 2, "God does not show favoritism" ( Romans 2:11 ). With God there is no partiality or unfairness and he doesn't consider one person more valued than another. The King James Bible says "God is no respecter of persons" ( Acts 10:34 KJV ). This is a great thing because Paul is teaching us that when God looks at us, he does not see a distinction between things like Jews, Gentiles, Americans, men or women. In fact he said that the same Lord is Lord over all and he generously bestows his riches, blessings and favor upon all those who call to him in faith. What an amazing thing. This reinforces the truth that we are accepted and loved solely on the basis of Jesus. What a freeing reality to understand.

All of this is yours through faith in Jesus, for "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." ( Romans 10:13 ). All it takes is to trust Him as your savior and look to Him as your Lord. Paul said, "if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9). Since God does not show favoritism you can know without a shadow of doubt that you are saved through this promise.

Today, I am blessed to know that my confidence is in the Lord who has saved and redeemed me. I am grateful to know that trusting in Him provides security in an insecure world. My prayer is that you know the hope to which you are called in Christ Jesus and that this truth will resonate in your heart every day for the rest of your life, amen.