Written by Cafe 1040 Staff
Romans 10:14-15
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!
In this series, we’ve considered the rich meaning of Romans 10:14-15. After four rhetorical questions, Paul concludes the argument with a quote. Reaching back to Isaiah 52:7, he writes, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
The feet?!
Of all the ways Paul might’ve wrapped up this passage, that wasn’t the “bow” I expected the first time I read it. Up to this point in Romans, Paul has explained and emphasized the Gospel message. But now, he turns to the role of the Gospel messengers. And in this passage, the most notable characteristic of those messengers is their beautiful feet.
Hundreds of years before Paul, Isaiah first spoke about a messenger on the mountains—presumably outside Jerusalem. Couriers often carried news of military victories and defeats. Isaiah celebrated messengers who would one day proclaim peace and deliverance (Isaiah 52:7) for the oppressed and demoralized people of God. Babylon’s grip on God’s people would be destroyed.
But Paul knows his message is the far greater fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. God did not just defeat the Babylonians but has now defeated sin and conquered death through Jesus Christ. And that the Gospel message is not just for the salvation of the Jews but for everyone (Romans 1:16, 10:13).
The Gospel is undoubtedly beautiful, but as I mentioned before, Paul is more concerned that we recognize our role as messengers and step into action. Do we journey through our neighborhoods, cities, countries, and world seeking to share the Gospel?
Our feet are especially beautiful when they are in motion and on a mission, and our mission is to the ends of the earth! It doesn’t make sense for us to only focus on sharing the Gospel with audiences who have already heard it. God’s intended audience is too vast and many still have not heard.
The passage invites us to stop outsourcing evangelism to the missionaries or pastors who carry formal ministry titles. We are all messengers of the Gospel entrusted with the authority to share it.
With whom in your neighborhood has God sent you to share this week?
Might God be sending you outside your neighborhood to share with those who’ve never heard the Gospel?
This is PART 5/5 of a devotional series written based on the key passage for Cafe 1040’s Annual Giving Campaign. We hope these have blessed you and continue to pray alongside us.
