The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Joel 2:32,
"...everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.."
Although the Jews are looking at a devastating plague of locusts from God for their turning from him, through Joel the Lord speaks of another time, a time coming that will provide them hope. It will be a time of deliverance, a time when the Lord will pour out his Spirit on all people. This is a time when the gospel will be proclaimed and all who respond by calling on the Lord will be saved.
Paul quotes this verse in Romans 10:13. As he speaks of salvation by faith, Paul points to the importance of the gospel message. It is a message of faith and declares that "if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9.
It is not a message for Jews alone but for the Gentiles as well. Paul tells us there is no difference between Jew and Gentile, that the same Lord blesses all who call on him. Anyone and everyone who might turn to God has this promise. Because this is such an important message Paul speaks of the enterprise of evangelism and declares, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!", a quote of Isaiah 52:7.
Sadly, many Jews in Paul's day did not respond to the gospel of faith. Paul quotes Isaiah 65:2 to speak of God's posture toward Israel, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people." However, he also quotes the verse before "I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me."
Paul makes clear the opportunity for people to call on the Lord is through the "message of Christ", that is, the gospel. It is through this gospel that faith has its opportunity for expression. Paul says, "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." Romans 10:17.
This is all simply fascinating to me. Our Creator, the one the world has turned its collective back on, reaches out to mankind. He offers an invitation into his kingdom, his family, eternal life, eternal pleasures at his right hand, if we but call on his name in our response to the gospel! Jesus Christ did all the heavy lifting for us when he died a miserable death on a cross to pay the penalty of our sins and now folks need simply to embrace the Lord in faith! What an opportunity for mankind!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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