Daily Devotions
Proclaiming With Deeds
Reading for February 13: Numbers 14-15
Weekly reading for February 11-17: Romans 1-5
Title: Proclaiming With Deeds
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.
Romans 1:8
When we think of evangelism in Romans, we think of a powerful proclamation of the Gospel. Paul was eager to come to Rome so that he might "preach the gospel" there (Romans1:15). He was unashamed of the message of the Gospel because it is the power of God to salvation (Romans 1:16). He tells us that "faith comes by hearing" and that the lost cannot hear without a preacher being sent (Romans 10:14-17).
But the first time the word "proclaim" or "proclaimed" is used in Romans (and it's only used three times), it is right here in verse eight. And this verse is not about preaching the Gospel, but about living the Gospel. The church in Rome had a genuine faith that was "proclaimed" throughout the world.
What about your faith? We talk about ways to proclaim our faith at school or at work. As important as it is to proclaim our faith with words (and there is no substitute for this), it is equally important that we proclaim our faith with deeds. If we're not living the Gospel, no one is going to pay attention when we preach the Gospel.
Father, help us to make sure that our deeds match our words.
