But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:8-13

If you are a frequent flyer, you have probably heard that airlines are making it more difficult to earn elite status. They argue that this will both be more profitable for them and create a better experience for the truly elite frequent flyer. It’s caused a great deal of backlash among customers because we all love our status. We love the perks of membership whether it’s at the airport or on the golf course. We all enjoy special treatment and the comforts that come with an exclusive membership. After all, we have paid a premium for these privileges. It’s easy for us to carry those expectations over into our life of faith. However, that is not how covenant membership works.

Paul writes that “there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.” The Kingdom of God has no exclusive memberships. There is no special category for Jews, or Greeks, or even Presbyterians. There is no distinction in this membership—no elite levels or special perks. We should not expect special treatment because unlike our other memberships, we did not pay for this one. We do not fly a million miles or pay an initiation fee. Jesus bought our membership in this club, and we enjoy its benefits solely because of his grace. That truth should lead us to view our covenant status not with pride but with and gratitude.

For Reflection

• When you think about the covenant community what emotions come to mind?

• How might the truth that the Lord bestows riches on all who call on him inspire you to be more inclusive of your neighbor?

Prayer

Lord, we thank you for your grace and for calling us to be a part of your covenant community. We are amazed that our most privileged position in this life came as a gift from you. We know that we did nothing to earn it. So, Lord, we pray in this week that we will live a life of gratitude for the price that you paid. Inspire us to be people of grace, humbly seeking to include others in this life. Amen.