The Call for Us All

“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? 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!’”—Romans 10:14–15 (NLT)

Imagine this with me: An actress is filming a scene but she wasn’t given any lines at all. She just stands there in front of a green screen with no clue what the scene is, what her role is, or what she needs to say or do. When they start rolling, she is baffled and stands there like a deer in the headlights. The director yells cut and is upset by what just took place . . . but does he have any right to be? How can she know what to do or say if she wasn’t given a script or any context for what was taking place in the scene?

In today’s verse, the apostle Paul essentially questions the same thing as it pertains to faith. How can we expect people who aren’t told about the gospel to live out the gospel? How can we get so indignant at nonbelievers when their lifestyle doesn’t line up with the Christian way of life they know little to nothing about—and what some unfortunately see as a poor representation of living in Christ, as portrayed by the mainstream media and sometimes by Christians living as poor witnesses. How can we expect them to live according to the message of the cross when “the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing” (1 Corinthians 1:18 NIV)? How can they be saved if believers don’t tell them about the good news of salvation?

My friends, if you are in Christ, if you are His disciple, you have been sent. It’s not just a call for some Christ-followers, it’s not just the job of a select group of believers or pastors . . . it’s everyone’s mission. Mark 16:15 (NIV) says, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation,” while Matthew 28:19 (NIV) says, “go and make disciples of all nations.” This is for all of us.

You don’t need Bible college training to do this. Like the woman at the well who immediately went into her town to tell people about Jesus, you just need to tell people the good news that Jesus loves them, died for them, and can change their lives and hearts in ways they never thought possible. Like the blind man in John 9:25 (NIV), you don’t need to know everything, because he said, “One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!"

The gospel of Jesus has the power to change every heart on its own. All you need to do is be the messenger who delivers this good news.

PAUSE: Have you ever gone into a situation completely blind, without any knowledge or understanding of what you were doing? What did it feel like? How successful were you?

PRACTICE: Think of someone in your life who is a nonbeliever, someone who is living in a way that has upset you in some way, and pray. Ask the Lord to open his or her heart to receive, to open a door for you to share the gospel, to give you the boldness to share, and for the words to flow from the Holy Spirit and not from you. Then when He makes a way, when the Holy Spirit leads, be His messenger!

PRAY: Father, I pray for those who do not yet know You. I pray their eyes would be opened to Your truth and Your love. I pray You would use me and other believers both here and around the world to deliver the message of the gospel to those who need to hear it. Give us boldness, wisdom, compassion, and passion. Amen.

About the Author

Danny Saavedra

Danny Saavedra is a licensed minister who has served on staff at Calvary since 2012, managing the Calvary Devotional and digital discipleship resources. He has a Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling and Master of Divinity in Pastoral Ministry from Liberty Theological Seminary. His wife Stephanie, son Jude, and daughter Zoe share a love of Star Wars, good food, having friends over for dinner, and studying the Word together as a family.