Defiantly, Unashamedly, Generously — Speak Truth Unashamedly - Wednesday
TODAY’S VERSE
Romans 1:13-15
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. (ESV)
Is there anywhere you’ve always been eager to go?
I’ve always wanted to visit the United Kingdom. They have beautiful landscapes, quirky accents, old architecture, and nearly all of my favorite books and TV shows come from the Brits. Why wouldn’t I want to go?
If you’re thinking this isn’t the first time someone has prattled on about the UK in devotions, you’d be right (and you have a great memory). I mentioned it back in January — the week Scott held a lamb on stage.
Even though I’ve always wanted to go, I’d never had a real reason — until earlier this year (and ironically after writing about it). At the end of June, I had the privilege of traveling to Birmingham, England as part of a Southland team on a mission trip through our partners at Lifeline. Birmingham is an incredibly multicultural city with nearly 200 nationalities represented, and our team got the opportunity to learn from and work with several churches and ministry organizations throughout the city.
While I could go on and on about the experience, here was one of my takeaways: England really is a post-Christian society. Sure, there are a lot of churches. But most of these are treated more as museums than places to learn about following Jesus. Most people have running water and roofs over their heads. The needs there are much less physical than we typically expect in short-term missions. But we got to work with brothers and sisters in Christ who are serving in the midst of a culture that is, as a whole, spiritually depraved and far from Jesus. When our team met a month later to debrief, several people said the same thing: They wanted to start serving somewhere in our city, because we all saw that the streets of Birmingham aren’t the only ones experiencing spiritual depravity. As much as England needs Jesus, so do Lexington, Nicholasville, Georgetown, Danville, and Richmond.
In a letter written to the church in Rome, the apostle Paul mentions how often he planned to visit them and how he’s been longing to see them. He deeply desires to go to Rome! But Paul isn’t drawn in by Rome’s travel appeal; he sees a city full of people who need Jesus, and he never loses sight of that purpose. Paul’s eagerness to visit Rome is to preach the Gospel.
When was the last time you were eager to tell someone about Jesus? As you go about your daily life, how often are you looking for opportunities to share the Gospel with those around you? When we go out and about, to places we’re eager to visit and to places we’re dragging our feet, let’s keep our eyes focused on what (and who) matters most.
APPLICATION
There are so many opportunities to get involved and serve others as the hands and feet of Jesus. Take a moment to think through your stage of life and resources, and prayerfully discern how you might be able to get involved. Then, check out these opportunities:
PRAYER
Lord, help me to keep my eyes focused on You, and keep in perspective the life-and-death matter of Your Gospel. When I see spiritual depravity around me, create an eagerness in me to speak Your truth unashamedly, to lean in and not lean back. Lord, create a deep desire in me to know You and Your Word, that I might learn to live and love more like You. Amen.
