go, again

Once again, when it all boils down, we see our universal mandate...

Romans 10

5 For Moses writes that the law's way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands.

6 But faith's way of getting right with God says, "Don't say in your heart, 'Who will go up to heaven?' (to bring Christ down to earth).

7 And don't say, 'Who will go down to the place of the dead?' (to bring Christ back to life again)."

8 In fact, it says,

"The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart."

And that message is the very message about faith that we preach:

9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God,

and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.

11 As the Scriptures tell us,

"Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced."

12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect.

They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him.

13 For "Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved."

  14 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?

15 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!"

That last paragraph is the kicker...

How will people know about Jesus unless someone tells them?

How will they heard unless we go to them – not, “wait for them to come to us” but go to them.

It seems we as people & we as the church are waiting for them to come to us.

What arrogance, what hubris...

Where would you & I be if the people who influenced us to believe & follow Jesus had waited for us to come to them rather than them coming to us?

I know where I'd be, & it ain't a pretty thought.

We must go to them.

That's whether they are close by, in places we frequent, in our neighborhood or town, state, or country, or somewhere outside the borders of the USA.

There we have it – once again the mandate - “go”