Fasting Encouragement Day Seven
Day 7, Romans 10
Good day to you, my friends; you are over halfway there; keep pressing on and pressing in. We can begin to sort of coast at this point in the fast as we have become accustomed to less food or less distraction from media and the like. While the physical or soulish desires may have begun to dissipate, continue to press into His word, prayer, and worship, and find a place for an intimate connection with Jesus.
Romans 10 begins a shift in Paul’s letter from the doctrines of grace and sonship into the mission of the Gospel. He brilliantly weaves mission into the doctrines he’s established earlier to move the Roman church from inward-focused to missional. Romans 10 and 11 make a clear case for the Gospel to go to everyone.
Romans 10:13-17 (ESV) 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the Gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Intentionality in our relationship with God is crucial. Being intentional with worship, prayer, Bible reading/study, and intimacy are vital to our growth as believers. Paul didn’t let the Roman church rest on the laurels of their sonship and unconditional love and acceptance by God as His children. Instead, he made them look out at the broken world around them and put down the challenge, “if you don’t, who will?”
In my fast, there is always a moment where my heart begins to break over my lost family members, neighbors, leaders, and nation. I begin to allow God’s love for others to invade my soul, and I see them as lost sons and daughters, not as degenerate sinners. God allows our hearts to see the world through His loving eyes.
Who would you not expect to respond to the Gospel? Pray for them. Who has been challenging to deal with? Pray for them. Who do you see in need of a breakthrough from sin? Pray for them. But start by praying, “Jesus, let me see them the way you see them.” What was an assignment will now feel like a burden.
Be so blessed today, and I join my faith with yours in agreement that those who you are believing will respond to the Gospel this year would joyfully come into a full knowledge of the love of Jesus!
Be so blessed today,
PL