Romans 10:8–17 (NIV84)  “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts 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.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

My wife taught Preschool for a number of years. She will tell you that the parents of preschoolers have no secrets. Their children tell their teachers everything they hear their parents say and everything they see them do. One day in the middle of class a student of hers said, “My daddy likes to dance around the house in his underwear!”  That was an image she did not want to have in her head.  She also heard about the “bad words” parents would use. Those children were watching and listening, and then they shared what they knew.

As a disciple of Jesus, someone who believes that He is your Savior, you need to be aware that the world around you is watching and listening. They are looking for inconsistencies, chinks in the armor, evidence that you are no better than they are. And they won’t have to observe long before they see those things. We understand that we live under grace and mercy, that we have forgiveness for our sins and failings, but the world around us does not have that understanding.

I’m not saying that it is okay to sin. It is not. God hates sin. Always. He does not want anyone to do it. Ever. And that is why we strive to live a new life. You and I understand that the burden of all our sin was placed on Jesus on that cross. He bore that weight and paid our penalty so that we could have forgiveness. We believe in Him so that we will not perish but have eternal life. Someone shared that message with you, you heard it, and by the power of the Holy Spirit you believed it. It is now our task to share that message with the world around us. You need to share what you know to be true.

While those around us are watching and hoping to see us slip up, they are listening. That is why we need to be sure to share the message that was shared with us from God’s Word. Be sure to give God praise and glory in your conversation. Paul reminds you here: For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  When you speak your faith that saves you, others will hear it. It is the message they need to hear so that the Spirit can work through the Word in their lives. A few verses latter Paul affirms:  faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

Remember that you are being watched. People are listening. Strive to live the New Life to which you have been called. And share the reason for the hope that is in you:  Jesus Christ, crucified and risen!