Salvation that comes from trusting Christ – which is the message we preach – is already within easy reach. In fact, the Scriptures say, “The message is close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart” (Romans 10:8 – Life Application Study Bible, Tyndale House Publishers).
This passage in Romans is Paul quoting Moses’ words to the Israelite people in Deuteronomy 30:14, where he was asking them to return to God. I chose to reference the Life Application Bible version above because of its clarity. God’s people in the Old Testament had a destructive pattern of turning away from God and worshipping idols. When things got really bad, they came crawling back and pleaded with God to turn his favor toward them again. Same story, different names, throughout the entire Old Testament. God was faithful and kept his promises every time. The context of this verse Romans was a little different. Here, Paul was telling believers that salvation through Jesus Christ was attainable. It was attainable for both Jews and Gentiles back then. It is attainable for us today. But is it really close at hand? Is it really on our lips and in our hearts?
As I’ve mentioned before, I grew up in the church. My Dad was a pastor and my Mom was a Sunday School teacher. Not just your average Sunday School teacher though, she had a very distinct role. She was the memory verse lady. Her specialty was Middler Worship – 3rd and 4th graders. I remember my Mom leading Middler Worship in the basement of our old church building at 1705 Towanda Avenue for years and years. When I read Romans 10:8, I can hear my Mom leading the weekly memory verse saying, “We are going to hide God’s word in our heart. When we need it, he’s going to help us remember it.”
My Mom was right. Spending time in God’s word, and memorizing key messages from it, is the recipe for keeping the message close at hand, on our lips and in our hearts. As we close out 2023 and look toward 2024, can you commit to staying in God’s word and keeping his message close at hand, on your lips and in your heart? It takes intentionality, so plan ahead. After eight years of writing this blog, I can attest it is worthwhile. My life has been changed.