God Has Not Forgotten His People
Have you ever worked really hard on something, only to find out you were doing it all wrong? Maybe it was a home project that went sideways because you skipped the instructions, or a recipe that flopped because you trusted your instincts more than the measurements. It’s frustrating when zeal and effort don’t lead to the result you hoped for. But what if the same thing could happen in your faith?
In Romans 9:30 through 10:21, Paul paints a deeply personal and theological picture of what happens when zeal isn’t rooted in truth. His anguish for his fellow Israelites is palpable—he loves them, he longs for them to see Jesus as the fulfillment of everything they hoped for. But instead, many of them missed Him. Why? Because they tried to build righteousness through works, not faith.
“They are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.” (Romans 10:2)
Paul gets it—he’s lived it. In Philippians 3, he lists his own spiritual résumé: a Hebrew of Hebrews, a Pharisee, faultless according to the law. But then he says it’s all garbage compared to knowing Christ (Philippians 3:7–11). What changed? He encountered Jesus, and that encounter shifted everything from religious striving to faithful surrender.
Faith, Not Achievement
This chapter is a powerful reminder that righteousness doesn’t come from how well we follow the rules—it comes by faith. Paul says it plainly:
“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.” (Romans 10:9)
It’s shockingly simple. No religious acrobatics. No spiritual résumé. Just belief. Just trust. Just Jesus.
For many of us, that simplicity is both comforting and challenging. Comforting, because we don’t have to earn God’s love. Challenging, because it means letting go of the illusion that we can.
The Posture of God
One of the most beautiful verses in this chapter might also be the most heartbreaking:
“All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.” (Romans 10:21)
This is God’s posture toward those who have rejected Him—not arms crossed in anger, but arms stretched out in love. God is still reaching. Still waiting. Still loving. That includes Israel, and that includes anyone in our lives who seems far from Him.
Do you have people like that in your life? Someone whose heart feels hard? Someone who’s walked away or never wanted anything to do with faith? Paul’s words remind us: God hasn’t given up on them. And neither should we.
Sent to Share
Romans 10 also issues a call to those of us who believe. It’s not enough that we know this good news. We’re sent to share it.
“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? … And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” (Romans 10:14)
Evangelism isn’t about having all the answers or preaching from a soapbox. It’s about showing up in people’s lives with love and truth. It’s walking with people in their pain. It’s offering hope. It’s being, as D.T. Niles once said, “one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.”
An Invitation
So what about you?
Are you trying to earn what God has already given freely? Are you relying on spiritual effort instead of simple faith? Hear the invitation of Romans 10—believe in your heart, confess with your mouth, and receive the righteousness that only comes through Jesus.
Or maybe you’ve been quiet about your faith, hesitant to share the hope you’ve found. Who in your life needs to hear? Who needs to see Jesus through you?
And perhaps today, you’re carrying a burden for someone who seems far from God. Be encouraged—God’s arms are still outstretched. He has not forgotten His people. He’s still pursuing, still loving, still longing to gather His children close.
Let’s be people who believe deeply and share boldly. Let’s walk in faith, not works. Let’s trust in the righteousness of Christ and tell the world where to find true life.
Challenge for the Week:
Who in your life needs to hear the good news? Pray for them by name. Ask God for an opportunity to share—not just your words, but your life. And if you’ve been striving for God’s approval, pause and receive His grace again. His arms are still open.
You don’t have to earn your way to God. You just have to come.