April 14
Proclaim the Gospel
Romans 10
KEY VERSE:
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?
n Romans 10:14,15
Some tell
us that the “Baby Boomer” generation is largely indifferent to the proclamation
of the gospel. That may be true, but my personal experience gives me a
different perspective.
All of our children were “Boomers,”
born between 1946 and 1964. None of them is presently identified with their
generation’s so-called “wall of indifference” to the Great Commission. Indeed
one of them is soon to graduate from seminary, having answered the call of God
to proclaim the gospel. One of his brothers chairs the Council in his church,
and another chairs the Missions Team in his church. Another supports his wife
in her work on the staff of their church.
An exception to the rule? Perhaps.
But when these young men were growing up, their mother and I never prayed that
they would become preachers. We did pray earnestly that they would become
genuine disciples of Jesus Christ. While I am proud that one son has answered
the call to preach, I am equally proud that his brothers are serving Christ in
other ways.
What seems clear to me is that
somewhere along the way our sons began to hear and respond to the call of God.
The influence of parents can make a difference, but ultimately it is God who
guides and shapes our lives. I did not call my sons to preach, or to serve God
within their churches. God did. He always has called people to go and tell
others the good news of salvation.
His plan is simple. One person
hears the good news from another. When he shares this news with others, the
Spirit awakens in another’s heart the desire to go preach the gospel to those
who have not heard. When that happens the Church Gathered nurtures the one
called and “sends” this person out to preach. In this process the whole church
shares God’s mission to proclaim the gospel to all people everywhere.
We are all needed. We can all be
involved in God’s gracious plan. Let us thank God that he still calls some of
us to go and preach the good news to those who have never heard.
If you have confessed with your
mouth that “Jesus is Lord,” and believed in your heart that God raised Jesus
from the dead, you are saved. Now in gratitude embrace the privilege of sharing
the good news with others. Go and tell in whatever ways God directs you. And
remember that you are a Christian today only because someone else was faithful
in proclaiming the gospel to you! Never forget that the Gospel begins with
go!