5 For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is [b]based on law shall live [c]by that righteousness. 6 But the righteousness [d]based on faith speaks as follows: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), 7 or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 [e]that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, [f]resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, [g]resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be [h]disappointed.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:5-13
Dear God, I probably shouldn’t be talking about this yet because I just started it, but I began reading a book yesterday by Skye Jethani called What if Jesus was Serious about Heaven? It talks about some of our bad modern theology about heaven and how we might see the realm where you reside and where we go after death a little differently. Of course, I have my own thoughts as well–none of which I am confident enough to try to teach to anyone as truth.
But this is today’s passage from Bible Gateway (actually, it’s just verses 9 and 10, but I wanted to go ahead and put them in a little more context) so I will just sit with this and you for a bit.
When I was a senior in high school we got a new youth minister in our church and he made us memorize three passages: Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, and Romans 10:9-10. So whenever I see this passage it always makes me think of him and my senior year. That seems like so long ago now. I guess it will be 37 years ago this summer. They were important for us to be able to share our faith and help people understand that we were all sinners, the result of sin is death, but there is hope in eternal life with you through believing in Jesus.
Father, for a lot of my life, people were scaring me into faith with the threat of hell. That’s like a parent coercing love out of a child through threats of being cut off or something. I don’t think that’s what you want from us when it comes to our love for you. You don’t want me to be here because I’m afraid to not be here. You want me here because I long for you. I need you. I love you. Well, I can honestly tell you that that is why I am here this morning. You are the one essential in my life. You are the only thing that is the same yesterday, today, and forever. You are my only certainty. You are my God.
I pray all of this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,
Amen
Emails to God 