February 1 Romans 9-10“
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!’ But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed our report?’ So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:14-17
Paul asked the question: “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?” We know that calling on Christ, trusting Him, and surrendering to Him marks the beginning of salvation. But no one can call upon a Savior they don’t know. And no one knows Christ unless the message is heard. In these verses Paul reminds us that people do not come to Christ by accident. He reminds us that God uses His Word, delivered through His people, to invite people to be saved. Someone told us the gospel. Someone prayed for us, taught us, explained Scripture to us, or shared Christ with us. Before we ever called on the Lord, somebody somewhere spoke the truth from Scripture that opened our eyes.
Paul asks, “And how shall they hear without a preacher?” He does not mean a professional preacher like a pastor of a local church, a missionary, or an evangelist. In the context of these verses, the preacher is anyone who proclaims the good news of salvation to another person.
God could have sent angels to preach the gospel. He could have written the message across the sky. Instead, He uses ordinary Christians, redeemed sinners, broken vessels filled with grace, to carry His life-giving Word. This is both an honor and a responsibility. The gospel is not meant to be hidden or bottled up. God has placed His message on the tongues of His people. That means your voice matters. Your story matters. Your relationship with Christ is not merely personal; it is meant to be shared with others.
“And how shall they preach unless they are sent?” God is the One who initiates gospel proclamation. He sends His people. He places them in specific homes, jobs, neighborhoods, and relationships where their voice will matter. You are not where you are by chance. God has placed you exactly where He wants you to speak His truth. You may think of yourself as ordinary, but God sees you as sent. Some believers are sent across the world. Many are sent across the street. But every believer is a missionary in the place God has assigned.
Paul acknowledges that not everyone responds: “They have not all obeyed the gospel.” Even Isaiah lamented, “Lord, who has believed our report?” Rejection is painful, but it is not failure. Our task is faithfulness, not outcome. God alone gives increase. Even when people reject the message, the Word of God is never powerless. It convicts, confronts, reveals, and ultimately glorifies Christ. The unbelief of others must never lead us to silence. Some will resist, some will ignore, but some will be saved because someone spoke the gospel to them.
Paul concludes with the simplest and most profound truth: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Faith is born when the Word of God enters the human heart. The power is not in the messenger but in the message. Through the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, Scripture creates faith, awakens hearts, and draws sinners to Christ. When you speak God’s Word you are partnering with the Holy Spirit in His life-giving work. This truth should free us from fear. You do not need to be polished, persuasive, or perfect. You simply need to be faithful. The Word does the work. Your voice may be the very one God uses to bring someone to salvation.