For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13

I sat in a Prayer and Bible study group the other night with friends.  We gathered to share in God’s Word and encourage one another.  We prayed for one another, laughed together, and just by being present together we encouraged each other to press on in our discipleship journeys.  We certainly need each other during these challenging times.

This year is proving to be an unusual year with the coronavirus, economic hardships, and racial unrest in addition to the personal hardships life often brings each of us.  As I listened to our group share, I heard someone share a profound truth we often overlook.  Her responsibility as a nurse is to help whoever comes through the doors.  When someone comes into the hospital they come for help.  She doesn’t discriminate in any way but provides the help they need as best she can.  She goes to work everyday with the expectation of helping others in need.

The challenges of 2020 have constantly brought to mind the truth that all of us need help.  Yes, we have all been affected by these circumstances in some way, but our need for help goes deeper.  The Bible tells us that we all have a disease that has killed our very souls – sin. 

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins,” we are told in Ephesians 2:1.  And not one of us is immune to this disease.  We have “all sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  The curse of sin on this planet and our lives is evident in the hatred, bloodshed, and selfish pride. 

We need help.  Thankfully, God has sent us the help we need. 

God in His great love and mercy has sent His only Son, Jesus, to live and die for us.  Jesus lived among us yet never sinned.  He died on the cross in our place taking the punishment for our sin on Himself.  He paid the ultimate price of sin with His own blood.  But God raised Him from the dead, conquering sin, and defeating death for us that we might be forgiven and restored to life in Him forever.  God did all this for us according to His own grace and power. 

And he says, “for whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).  What do you suppose He means by the word “whoever?”  He means anybody – no matter your color, ethnicity, gender, past or present.  God so loved the world, that’s everybody, that He gave the greatest gift to us, eternal life with Him through His own Son. 

Of course, to receive this gift from God requires faith.  Earlier in Romans 10:9-10, the Bible says we are to confess Jesus as Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead.  Confessing means we agree with God that our sin is wrong and deserving of punishment.  We believe in our hearts, our innermost being, that Jesus was punished for us and conquered our sin and its death penalty by His resurrection.  We follow Jesus as Lord of our lives, submitting ourselves to His teaching and direction.  When we surrender our lives to Jesus by faith He takes over and leads us well – whoever you are. 

Will you call on the name of the Lord Jesus? 
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