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For
if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that
God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your
heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth
that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, "Anyone who believes in him
will not be disappointed." Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect.
They all have the same Lord, who generously gives his riches to all who ask for
them. For "Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how
can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they
hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them
without being sent? That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, "How
beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" But not everyone
welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, "Lord, who has
believed our message?" Yet faith
comes from listening to this message of good news--the Good News about Christ.
But what about the Jews? Have they actually heard the message? Yes, they have:
"The message of God's creation has gone out to everyone, and its words to
all the world."
(Romans 10:9-18 NLV). Meditating for Lent on the
intersection of divine love and our own lives doesn't usually evoke an actual
intersection such as the one at College Park and South Main is situated in
Weatherford, Texas. However, that is what immediately came to my mind recently
when I noticed the church sign located there. There are lots of such signs in
our town, just as there are in yours. These messages are generally short and
pointed messages intended to make the passersby pause, contemplate, and perhaps
change. Through
the years there have been many of these that have touched me. I wish that I had
written them down! Thankfully, someone has! Margaret Moran, in her book, Home
Fires, has listed many of these little “sermons on a sign.” These all
appeared on church signs around the eastern part of North Carolina and Virginia.
§
When
things go wrong, don’t go with them. (Faith Freewill Baptist Church) §
Church
is a hospital for sinners, Not a museum for saints. (Bear Creek United
Christian) § A Bible that's falling apart often belongs to one who isn't. (Westwood United Methodist) § Some things have to be believed in to be seen. (Park Methodist Church) §
A
man's heart deviseth the way, but the Lord directeth his steps. (Riverview
Methodist) §
God
already made my day. (Goodwill Missionary Baptist) §
Only
God is in a position to look down on anyone. (Westwood United Methodist) §
Praying
hands aren't preying hands. (Sandy Hill United Christian) §
Faith
is a way of walking, not talking. (Pisgah Church) §
Burden
Drop-off Center. (New Testament Baptist Church) These mini-sermons are direct; they need to stop us while we are walking or driving by, busy with something else entirely. The message intersects with us as we whiz by the intersection to tell us that God is here and awaits. Slow down this Lent and listen to the messages God has placed all around you! |
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