Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV)
¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
²⁰teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

These are the marching orders for every disciple of Christ.  To make disciples of all nations necessitates preaching the Word without discrimination to anyone who will listen.  Jesus called us to be fishers of men.

In Romans 10, Paul reveals the blessedness of God’s plan of salvation.  In comparing salvation by faith and justification by the law, he shows how gracious God is in setting forth a plan of salvation that is accessible to all.  To be saved today, one does not have to do the impossible.

Romans 10:5–7 (ESV)
⁵For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them.
⁶But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down)
⁷“or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).

Righteousness based on the law demands moral perfection.  When Paul speaks of doing the commandments, he means doing those commandments perfectly, never sinning.  We know this because that is what the law required since it did not have a permanent provision for sin.  Being justified by the law would be as hard as ascending to heaven and bringing Christ down, or descending to Hades to bring Christ back from the dead.  We should be glad that our salvation is not based on doing such works.

Instead, by His grace, God has made justification and salvation a matter of faith.  “For the Scripture says, ‘Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.’” (Romans 10:11).  Salvation by faith is much better for us than salvation by perfection.  Instead of doing the impossible, one merely needs to call on the name of the Lord (ver. 13).  Here is where our responsibility begins to surface.  Paul goes on to say that faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17), but people will never hear without someone preaching to them (ver. 14).

When it comes to the salvation of souls, we have one duty—preach the Word.  We plant the seed and let the power of God and His Word take it from there.  Paul once said, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6).  Are you doing your part in planting the seed whenever you have the opportunity to do so?  Am I?  We should all feel the way Paul did when he said, “…Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16).

God has always used man to deliver His Word to the lost.  What if the apostles refused to preach on the day of Pentecost?  What if Philip refused to go down to Samaria and preach the gospel there, or to open his mouth and speak the truth to the Ethiopian eunuch?  What if Paul decided that he was not going to put his life at risk by preaching to others?  Thank God that those men were willing to allow Him to use them in the process of saving souls.  What about us?  Are we allowing God to use us?  Preach the Word!

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.