“How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher?”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭14‬ ‭CSB‬‬

If I woke up one morning to find several wrapped gifts in my living room, my first thought would not be that a fat elf in a red and white fur suit must have climbed down my chimney to deliver them.

No one believes in Santa Claus unless they are told the tales about him — usually at a very young and very gullible age.

God is no Santa Claus. And, unlike Santa, God’s story is true. But the truth about God can seem just as hard to believe. For one thing, it seems too good to be true: God is the ultimate wisdom and power in the universe, a Creator who loves me and wants to spend eternity with me? OK, sure.

Fortunately, unlike Santa’s story, there is evidence of the truth of God all around me every day. Before Paul wrote today’s verse, he wrote, “since what can be known about God is evident among [us], because God has shown it to [us]. For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.” (Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

And the psalmist, David, wrote, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands.” (Psalms‬ ‭19‬:‭1‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

We have no excuse for not knowing about God’s power, character, and glory.

But that’s not the whole story. The gospel of Jesus adds a beautiful wrinkle to God’s truth. Like today’s verse says, it requires a preacher. Not only is God the loving, wise, and powerful Creator I see in His creation, He loves me so much, despite my selfishness and rejection, that He sent His only Son to die in my place, before I even knew enough to be ashamed of my sin or grateful for His gift. And all He asks in return is for me to welcome His gift of love and forgiveness.

Again, it sounds too good to be true. Who would believe it? No one, unless someone (who, me?) tells the story.

Dear God,

Thank you for planting the truth of your love deep in my heart when I observe your created world. Thank you also for the people you planted in my life to teach me the truth about Jesus’s sacrifice for me. Forgive me for keeping the story to myself. Give me the courage, the words, and the recognized opportunities to be the preacher you ask me to be.