Desire for More

(Read Romans 10)

You can always tell a true leader by their level of humility and service. A true leader points others to a purpose greater than their own. When I think of true leaders, I think of humble and willing servants. From the greater to the lesser, I think of Jesus Christ, and I think of my friend (R).

(R) was a high-level officer during his career and often co-leads our small group. He is also a deacon of our church. When I asked him if he would be willing to share his faith story, he was more than accommodating. He’s such a polite man, I’m not sure if he wanted to do it, but (R) would do anything he could to advance God’s kingdom. “Sure,” he said.

“When I was a teenager, I remember getting rides to church with my friends. We were kind of like outsiders except to a few kids we knew from school, scouts and 4H. But there were a lot of people who welcomed us, making us feel like we were part of the family. There were a lot of adults who taught us about Christianity.” What he described to me is the kind of mentoring that builds a foundation of faith, it’s how all churches should be embracing visitors into their community.

“As a young teenager even before I could drive, I got saved,” (R) told me. I asked him what “getting saved” meant to him. “It’s ‘The Roman road to Salvation’,” he began. “I accepted Christ and got Baptized. As a new Christian, I wanted to learn more, I wanted to be more Godly. I wanted to get rid of this temper problem I had. Turns out there were a lot of people who were instrumental in leading him to the Lord. “Eventually the whole family started going to church.”

As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:11-13

“The Romans Road to Salvation” is a collection of verses from the New Testament book of Romans that map out God’s salvation plan. Every map is different, but they all follow the same premise. It goes from bad news to the good news. The bad news is that we all fall short of the glory of God and are dead because of our sinful nature. Then the good news as stated in verse 10, “Who ever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!”

Calling on the Lord is more than just using Christ’s name, it’s more than telling people I believe in Him, it’s having faith in Him. It means being obedient to His will not our will. It’s not by our doing or our good works. As Billy Graham said, “What sends most people to hell is not their sins, but their good works.”

“My faith took time to stick. I was weak with my obedience at first. I was convicted but not really walking with God. Throughout all this, I had a desire for more.” (R) was calling God’s name.

(R) can point back to this time in his life when he submitted his authority to God’s. “I’ve had a bit of a temper problem since I was in kindergarten,” (R) admitted. “Sometimes, I talk loudly and harshly to people,” he added. This was a bit of a shock to me, because I’ve always found him to be calm and genteel – a true southern gentleman. “God has been working me through this,” he continued. “God reminds me that I don’t have to talk to people this way. I have to fight the devil in this.”

A few years later, (R) left home, left his church friends, and attended college. It was a period of growth for his faith and maturity. Eventually (R) joined the military. “I was surrounded by unchurched people, but you could always tell who were the Christians. I tried to gravitate towards them. God pulled me away from bad situations and influences.”

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31

If you read Paul’s epistle to the Romans carefully, you’ll see several references to the Old Testament, more specifically, Isaiah. Paul connected to the prophet Isaiah many more times than any other writer in the New Testament. You think he was making a point? Paul was stressing the universality of Christ’s salvation. Jesus is the fulfillment of all Old Testament scripture for Israel and for the Gentiles. Christ’s salvation is available for all people.

In this passage of Isaiah, the prophet is telling his readers that with God there is a promise of strength for the fatigued. There is a promise of strength for everyone who seeks it. God provides a supernatural renewal of strength for the weary. God is not just strong and mighty, he is strong and mighty for us. Throughout (R)’s new life, he has strengthened his faith by calling upon God by name.

“During my career, I’ve been around a lot of guys who would spend time drinking and clubbing (strip clubs). God always led me away from this life.” (R) then described how he met another strong believer one day, who turned out to be the oldest friend that he still communicates with. “We had children about the same age. We became like family. Throughout our time in the service we served together on many occasions, and each time it was like nothing had changed when we got together.”

“Eventually, I was sent to live overseas. My boss, I discovered, was also a Christian. When I attended chapel one day, I saw that he was not only an elder but he also led the services.” As (R) was revealing this story to me, I thought, what an awesome example of God’s provisions. He said, “It was like having a Christian family 7,000 miles from home. God kept extending other believers to us.” God continued to do this through (R)’s life. We talked about how grounding faith can be, especially when being away from home. “I didn’t want to fall into the trap of starting over every time we had to move,” he added.

“When the war first kicked-off, I served closely with a Christian co-worker. Every morning, he would pull out his Bible and then pray.” My friend didn’t say it, but I got a strong sense that there was potential danger surrounding them. “You could just feel his faith. He might have been afraid, but I never saw the fear. It was reassuring seeing my co-worker’s faith. With God beside us, we could work through our fear. ”

We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.
Timothy Keller

“As I’ve grown older, I now see how sinful we really are.” (R) explained, “I don’t mean this to be negative, but that I can see how separated we really are from God.” Unpacking further, (R) said, “You don’t realize how separated we are until you look back at things.” We talked about the wellknown “Footprints in the sand” poem where the author described through his life, during the suffering, the highs and lows, he would sometimes notice two sets of footprints and sometimes one. The Lord replied, at the end of the poem, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints my child, is when I carried you.” What have we done to deserve this Salvation, I thought to myself? Nothing. Jesus did it.

“Having gained more maturity in my faith, I understand more now. I know God allows us to be in situations and trials, but he always gives us a way to handle it. He might not promise things will work out the way that we want it to, things might not be the same as they were before, but God uses all things for the good of others or for His good.”

“…For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future…”
Jeremiah 29:11

We should take comfort in knowing that this lifesaving promise from God isn’t necessarily a guarantee of an immediate rescue, it’s a promise for our entire lives no matter what we’re currently experiencing. God will prosper us with hope and a future.

“God knows what He wants me to be, and I know what the world wants me to be.” (R) recognizes the difference. I know that he does not cave to what the world wants. He’s a brilliant, confident, and convicted man but still, we’re all tempted to replace God’s authority with our own. (R) added, “Now when I try to control things myself, I hear God telling me, ‘I need you to do this or that but not what you’re currently doing. I don’t need you to work this out for me. I got this.'”

(R) is several years younger than me, happily married, and happily retired. He has a charming, gentle wife, a son, daughter, and son-in-law. “Since I retired I pray a whole lot more,” he said. “I could talk to Jesus all day long.”

“When you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
(Matthew 6:7–8)

“How do you talk to God? Do you read, pray, what?” I asked.

“I pray short prayers. Sometimes I do one-word prayers,” he replied. “I might just mention someone’s name, or something I’m working through. After my prayers, I sometimes critique them. I want to be more effective in my prayers. I say petitions to God, I say whatever God needs me to say to allow me to work through my burdens. Sometimes at night, I wake up with worries on my mind. I handle it with prayer. Short direct prayers and many times, the Lord’s prayer.”

“What does the Bible mean to you?” I asked.

“For me, it’s an anchor or a battery,” he said. “When I open it up or listen to it on my phone, it grounds and recharges me. Listening to God’s word makes my worries go away. When I’m in God’s word, my worries don’t control me. Understanding scripture allows me to understand God’s meaning and context in His lessons.”

As a true leader, (R) provides an example for me and others around him. He’s a humble man who probably would prefer to be seen more as a follower. Every leader follows a higher command. Jesus in human form, followed God’s plan for him on the cross. While (R) is a leader at church, he also follows the direction of our Pastor, he follows the direction of committees he serves on, and he follows the larger purpose that God places in front of him. He has spent his life desiring more. Not desiring more things but desiring more wisdom, more comprehension, and a closer, more personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

“I have hope because I know how the story ends. I’m a willing servant. When asked if I’m ready to do God’s plan, my answer is a resounding Yes.”

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:13

Key Applications:

1. Read Romans 10. Pick (3) verses from the chapter that can serve as a guide for your relationship with God. Recite and pray upon these verses this week.
2. Do you call God by name? Do you really trust Him? When we have faith in His saving grace, we are His children. Let that sink in.
3. Try one-word prayers. Lift up someone in your life who is hurting. Someone who needs God’s loving arms, His healing, His mercy. Praying a short prayer prevents us from putting it off. It allows a more frequent conversation with God. That’s the way He likes it.

Where else in your life can you live out the teachings of Christ? Look for next week’s Devotion.