It's easy to get caught up in pursuing success and material wealth in today's world. Everywhere we turn, a new advertisement or message tells us that happiness, fulfillment, and prosperity come from the size of our bank accounts, the things we own, or the status we achieve. But what if the true riches we seek aren’t found in money or possessions but in something much deeper—something eternal? 🙏✨
The Bible gives us a different view of prosperity, one rooted in faith, not wealth. In Romans 10:9-17, the Apostle Paul lays out a powerful message about salvation, faith, and the importance of proclaiming the gospel. It’s a passage that reminds us that true prosperity isn’t found in what the world offers but in a life surrendered to Jesus Christ. 🙌💖
The Simplicity of Salvation ✝️❤️
Romans 10:9 tells us, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” It’s a simple yet profound truth. Paul is saying that our salvation doesn’t come from our works, status, or anything we can earn. It comes from confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in His resurrection. 💬✝️
This is where true prosperity begins—not with worldly riches, but with the richness of knowing Christ. When we make the decision to place our faith in Him, we are given the greatest gift of all: eternal life. 🌿 It’s not something we have to work for or strive to achieve. It’s given freely by God’s grace when we choose to believe and confess. 🎁💫
But what does that look like in our daily lives? It’s one thing to say we believe in Jesus, but are we living in a way that reflects His lordship over our lives? Are we confessing Him with our mouths, not just in church, but in our everyday conversations? 🤔💭
Some of our Family's Testimony 👨👩👧👦💖
Over the years, my family has faced numerous challenges that have reminded us of the power of faith and confession. Our son Joshua never woke up one day and had to be put on life support. It was a terrifying experience where we were forced to confront our helplessness. Not long after, our daughter Sarah rolled her car down the highway in a terrible accident. 🚑 Our son Calum was involved in a serious accident as well. There was a time when our daughter Shanna ran into a wall and stopped breathing and another when she had an allergic reaction that caused her to swell up like a balloon. 🎈 And more recently, I ended up having multiple surgeries due to a bacterial infection I contracted during my missionary travels. ✈️🏥
In each of these moments, we were reminded that no amount of money, status, or worldly success could save us. 💸🚫 It was our faith in Christ—our belief that Jesus is Lord and our confession of that belief—carried us through these dark times. We called on the name of the Lord, and He answered us in ways that no material possessions ever could. 🙏💪
Salvation is for Everyone 🌍✨
Paul continues in Romans 10:11-13, reminding us that salvation is available to everyone: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” This truth is so important in a world where people constantly try to distinguish themselves by their achievements or social standing. 🏆📊
We live in a society that values competition, where people are often defined by what they own or how much they’ve accomplished. But Paul’s message cuts through all of that. Salvation isn’t reserved for a select few. It’s available to all who call on the name of the Lord—whether you’re rich or poor, young or old, powerful or powerless. 🙌✨
This is the beauty of the gospel: it doesn’t discriminate. Whether you’re driving a luxury car 🚗💨 or struggling to pay your bills, the message of Christ is the same: you are loved and offered salvation through faith in Jesus. ❤️✝️
The Importance of Sharing the Gospel 🌍📣
But here’s the thing: for people to believe and call on the name of the Lord, they need to hear the gospel first. That’s why Paul asks, “How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” (Romans 10:14). 👂👥
The message of salvation is powerful, but it must be proclaimed. Each of us, as believers, has a responsibility to share the gospel with those around us. It’s not just the job of pastors or missionaries—it’s something every follower of Christ is called to do. 🗣️✝️
Sharing the gospel doesn’t have to be complicated. It starts with simply telling people what God has done in your life. In my family’s case, after facing multiple crises with our children, we knew that the hope and peace we found in Christ wasn’t something to keep to ourselves. The power of God we experienced was meant to be proclaimed so that others might come to know Him. ✨🙏
Faith Comes from Hearing the Word 📖👂
Paul closes this section by reminding us that “faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Romans 10:17). In a world filled with many voices and distractions, people must hear the gospel's truth. They need to hear about Jesus—the One who offers them eternal life and hope far beyond what the world can offer. 🌿✝️
So, what about you? Where are you placing your hope? Are you chasing after the temporary treasures of this world, or are you seeking the true prosperity that comes from knowing Christ? 🤔💖
If you’ve been striving for success in all the wrong places, I want to encourage you today to turn to Jesus. Confess Him as Lord, believe in His resurrection, and experience the life-changing power of His grace. 🙏 And once you’ve encountered that grace, don’t keep it to yourself. Share the good news with others, knowing that faith comes through hearing. 🎙️💬
Closing Thoughts 🙏💭
The world offers many definitions of prosperity, but the true riches of life are found in Christ. 💎✝️ He alone can offer the peace, security, and eternal life we desperately seek. Let’s fix our eyes on Him, confess Him as Lord, and go out into the world, sharing the message of salvation with those who need to hear it. 🌍❤️
True prosperity begins and ends with Jesus. 💖✝️
Blessings,
Evg. Bradley Sliedrecht
Facebook: #evgbrads
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