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!
During my time living in the Middle East, I heard stories of Muslim friends who had dreams and visions of a man dressed in white. Initially, this brought me relief, as it seemed like a way for them to believe in Jesus without our team having to share with every person in the city.
The enormity of the task of reaching the city weighed heavily on our small team.
Then something remarkable happened.
My husband and I became close friends with a man who became a believer after Jesus assured him in a dream that his very sick son would live. As I delved deeper into this man’s story, I discovered that this encounter with Jesus was just the beginning. He sought out a local believer who then shared the gospel with him.
While the encounter with Jesus stirred this man’s faith, his true belief and commitment to Jesus began when this believer shared the gospel with him.
This personal account mirrors the biblical story of Peter’s encounter with Cornelius, a God-fearing Gentile, as told in Acts 10. An angel instructed Cornelius to send men to bring Peter to his home. After Peter preached the good news of Jesus, Cornelius and everyone present believed and received the Holy Spirit. Despite Cornelius’s previous awareness of God and his angelic encounter, his salvation was realized only after hearing the gospel from another person.
A similar narrative unfolds with Philip, who encountered an Ethiopian eunuch returning home after worshiping in Jerusalem. The eunuch was reading from Isaiah 53 about the Messiah, but when Philip asked if he understood, the eunuch replied, “How can I unless someone explains it to me?” (Acts 8:31). Upon hearing about Jesus from Philip, the eunuch believed and was baptized. Despite his prior knowledge of God and access to Scripture, it was only through Philip’s explanation of the gospel that he truly understood and believed.
While God is all-sufficient and can accomplish His purposes independently, He has chosen to involve us in His work of making His name known throughout the world. In passages like Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus clearly conveys His plan for His disciples to spread his teaching and make disciples among all nations. The question is, how seriously do we take His words?
Our involvement in global evangelization plays a crucial role in enabling unreached people to hear the gospel and have the opportunity for eternal salvation. Moreover, it is a matter of our obedience to Jesus’ commands. We have the incredible privilege of working alongside God to build His Kingdom on earth. One of the most fulfilling experiences in life is sharing the gospel with someone who has never heard it before.
Even when individuals don’t immediately accept Jesus, there is often a visible transformation in their countenance. When someone does accept Christ, we have the privilege of witnessing the miracle of salvation, as they transition from spiritual death to eternal life. Nothing builds our faith more than being a part of this miraculous transformation.
How is God calling you to partner with Him to make His name known among all the nations?
This is PART 3/5 of a devotional series written based on the key passage for Cafe 1040’s Annual Giving Campaign. A new devotional will be published every week, and we hope you will be blessed by them and pray alongside us.
