Reading: Romans 10:10-15

Romans 10:10 – “Trusting with the heart leads to righteousness, and confessing with the mouth leads to salvation.”

Continuing in Romans 10 today, Paul unpacks verse 9. In verse 10 he writes, “Trusting with the heart leads to righteousness, and confessing with the mouth leads to salvation.” When we trust our whole life to Jesus – heart, soul, mind, and strength – then we live a righteous life. Giving all of ourselves to Jesus allows the Holy Spirit to guide, direct, lead, and redirect our thoughts, words, and actions. This leads to holy living. Confessing all of this with our mouths leads to salvation for those who hear our testimony or confession of faith.

In verses 12 and 13, Paul lays out who should hear our confessions: “Jew and Greek.” In this phrase, Paul means “all.” There were the Jews and then there was everyone else. Quoting Joel, Paul reminds us: “All who call on the Lord’s name will be saved.” Moving into verses 14 and 15, Paul moves to the “how” and the “who.” Those without Jesus are saved by hearing the good news from the lips of those who have been saved by the good news of Jesus Christ. All who have been saved are “preachers.” All of us can have those “beautiful feet” that share the good news that brings salvation to others.

The question we close with is this: Where? Where are we to go and share Jesus? Paul’s answer is found in his life: everywhere. Paul went to the ends of the known earth to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We can at least go to our neighbor, to our coworker, to our friend. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, bless our feet by sending us out into the world to proclaim the story of what Jesus has done in our lives. Bless our hearts. Fill them with trust. Bless our mouths. Fill them with words provided by the Holy Spirit. As we go out into the world to share our stories of salvation, grant us opportunities to witness to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.