[For] "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." ¹⁴How 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? [¹⁵And 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!"] —Romans 10:13-14 [15]
Are your feet beautiful?
Paul isn’t asking if you’ve recently had a pedicure. Spiritually speaking, those who share the gospel of Jesus Christ have “beautiful feet.” As Christ-followers, we should all have a goal of having beautiful feet!
In this portion of Scripture, Paul begins by making it clear that salvation is for “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord.” What a reassuring truth—there is no elite social, economic, or spiritual class for whom the good news is reserved. It is intended for everyone. This glorious truth, however, does not exist in isolation. That's why Paul follows it with four interlocking questions:
1. How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed?
Someone who needs rescuing will only call out to a person they believe can actually save them. Would a drowning person cry out to the dock to throw them a life preserver; to the seagull sitting idly by to pull them to safety? No, those needing rescue intuitively know they need a person to save them in their time of need.
2. And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard?
Belief necessarily follows knowledge. Said in a different way, if belief is the destination, everyone must pass through knowledge to get there. There is no shortcut. A person cannot believe in something unless he knows the thing to believe in.
3. And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
In order for someone to hear the good news, it has to be spoken! This fact encourages me to pursue conversations and relationships with others in order to share the gospel. May the Lord grant us a clear understanding of the gospel and the ability to speak it with clarity, along with a readiness to share it with others.
4. And how are they to preach unless they are sent?
Messengers only deliver their message after they are sent out. It’s hard to imagine a bicycle messenger in a major city keeping his job long if he just stayed in his apartment every day, never going out. As Christ-followers we are all messengers who have already been sent out.
Be encouraged, fellow sent-out ones. Share the gospel of Jesus Christ. The good news must be shared, so it can be known, so Christ can be believed, so He can be called on for salvation. When that happens, the feet of those sharing the good news are beautiful indeed. Lord, help us all to have such feet.
For Reflection
Do you find it hard to speak the gospel to unbelievers? What is the biggest challenge for you?
Practice saying the basics of the gospel, out loud, along with verses that explain each point.
Pray for opportunities to share this good news with unbelievers and ask the Lord to give you the words, and the courage to speak them.
Dan Claassen is Director of Ministry Expansion for Truth78. He formerly served within local law enforcement as a detective investigating Internet crimes against children. He has led several Christian foster care licensing and support organizations focused on equipping the church to care for some of the most vulnerable children and families within their communities. He's an elder at the church he and his family moved to Tampa, Florida to help plant in 2014. Most importantly, Dan loves Jesus, his wife Teri, their three children, and storing up God's Word in his mind and heart. He is passionate about serving the local body of Christ.