Learn - Live - Lead
"My heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes." Romans 10:1-4
Paul loved His people. But what baffled him was how zealous (on fire) they were for God, just not in the right way, the way he wanted. This was because their knowledge was tainted by inaccurate information. Just because someone has knowledge doesn't mean they are right. The Jew's problem is the same many face today - to know God in our way regardless of what He says. God makes it very clear, but we feign confusion because it's not what we want. The real question is, are we confused or conflicted? I contend:
WE KNOW MORE THAN WE THINK…
“The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,' that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim." Romans 10:8
Many people have no clue about God, the Bible and what He desires for their lives (watch Jeopardy). But there is a vast group of people who know way more about God than they are willing to admit. This is because the word of God is close to people's mouths and hearts - especially Americans. The other reason is the presence of the spirit - who is 'Wooing you from the jaws of distress' (Job 36:16).
…SO LETS DO MORE THAN WE'RE DOING.
“If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, 'Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame." Romans 10:9-11
Our beliefs and our actions are tied together - what we believe determines who we are. If we have declared Jesus 'lord' and believe God raised Him from the dead, we should continue in what we've said. As followers of Christ, it is our goal to please God (II Corinthians 5:9). To achieve this, these three things are essential: to learn from Him; live out what we learn, and then we lead others to Jesus. This will align our talk with our walk.
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13