This is the final blog in the “Romans Road to Salvation” blog series and I have to say, these have been THE most difficult blogs to write for me. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but we’ve gone about 3 weeks without a blog and that’s totally MY fault.
Not only am I a procrastinator, as I’ve shared with you before, but every single time I dedicate time to reading and praying over what to write my day goes to pot. I’m so tired I can’t stay awake, I have sinus crud, I’m so stressed I’m a ball of nerves or my emotions are all over the place and I just want to sit in a dark corner and cry. My son has promised to watch the puppy quietly in the other room so I can concentrate, but all I can hear is him squeaking her toys, yelling because she’s chewing on something or complaining about her smelly farts. Yes. I just mentioned farts in a women’s ministry blog.
But this is SO important. This message is SO important. This ministry is SO important. God’s word is his love letter to his people. The book of Romans is Paul’s love letter to God’s people and this blog is my love letter to you.
God’s promise was ALWAYS to bring a savior for EVERYONE.
In our first blog of this series, we discussed Romans 3:23 and how we are all sinners and fall short of God’s glory, but because of God’s love for us we can rest in the fact that;
“God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.”
Romans 3:24.”
And the penalty of our sin was death. That’s what we deserve. God knew that we could never measure up on our own. There aren’t enough laws or good intentions that will ever get us into eternity with God. So he sent his son Jesus to die on the cross, taking our shame and guilt in our place and nailed it to the cross with him.
“He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.”
1 Timothy 2:6
We have freedom in Jesus. All of us. Everyone. And the good news is that this freedom is available to you and to me.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
He bought the ticket and he stands ready to hand it over to me and to you. And you know how we receive it? We must receive him. We must believe that he is the son of God.
“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.”
Romans 10:9
That’s it. YOU. Right here. Right now. Get right with God. It’s as close as your mouth and your heart. For it is with your heart you believe. And it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. It’s so simple. But why is it so important for these two things to occur? Think about it. Your heart directs your life. It’s your decision driver. And your mouth is your commitment maker. Proclaim Jesus as Lord of your life and that’s all it takes. If you believe that Jesus is alive and that he conquered death then you are saved.
“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Romans 10:13
Just like Paul wrote in the beginning of chapter 10, I paraphrase for you.
Dear sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the women of Shaken & Stirred, Sand Springs and beyond to be saved. Some don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. They refuse to accept God’s way. They cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to follow rules or keep up appearances. But Christ Jesus has already done the work. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.
This is my prayer for you today and every day. Whether I seem to have it all together and I’m getting things done or I’m stuck talking about puppy farts with an 11 year old boy. I love you!
Mary Swafford is the founder of Shaken & Stirred, Meals that Matter, Coffee Talk, and a Co-Owner of Boulder Coffee in downtown Sand Springs. She is a wife, a mother of 3 beautiful children, but most importantly a daughter of the most high God. You are likely to find her chugging or serving coffee, sitting in a tattooist’s chair, or making friends out of strangers.
Photo by Becca Tapert on Unsplash