Listen

The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the message of faith that we preach). Because if you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and in your heart you have faith that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Trusting with the heart leads to righteousness, and confessing with the mouth leads to salvation. The scripture says, All who have faith in him won’t be put to shame. There is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord is Lord of all, who gives richly to all who call on him. All who call on the Lord’s name will be saved.

Romans 10:8b-13

Think

“All who call on the Lord’s name will be saved.” What a promise of acceptance and salvation!

“The Lord is Lord of all.” All means all! There are no distinctions made in God’s welcome.

So with this great welcome and this great promise, we are invited to come as we are – confessing with our mouths, trusting with our hearts.

Or as Charlotte Elliott penned in her hymn, “Just as I am, thou wilt receive, / wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve; / because thy promise I believe, / O Lamb of God, I come, I come.”

It’s just early days in the season of Lent. We have a long way yet to walk on our journey to the cross. But you are beckoned still to call on the Lord’s name and to follow. And you can trust that on this journey with Jesus, you will be welcomed, pardoned, cleansed, relieved.

Meredith Forssman

Pray

Lord, give me a simple faith, an absolute trust.

Let me fall into your welcoming arms.

And let me fall into step next to you.

Thank you for your promises that keep me going on this journey.

Amen.

Go

Just as I am, though tossed about
with many a conflict, many a doubt,
fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, thou wilt receive,
wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
because thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Charlotte Elliott in “Just As I Am” (1834)