Our outstanding debt to God.

Romans 13:8
⁸ Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. (NIV)

Salvation is a gift so what debt do we owe? The sacrificial death of Christ allows us entrance into a Covenant with God. But a covenant is a two-way promise meaning we must fulfill our part. The covenant requires perfection, and we can’t do that either.

We see Christ has done two things for us. He has made it possible for us to be in Covenant with God since our sinful state had ruined that possibility. Then He also fulfills what we owe to God in Covenant which is absolute perfection without ever having a sinful thought, word, or action. Praise be to God.

If Christ has fulfilled all that is required of us, what do we owe Him? The answer is honor. This is our outstanding debt to God. We can’t repay what He has done, but we owe Him honor for choosing to do what He has done for us.  And God has taught us how we are to honor Him, and it is by loving those He loves. We love Him and love our neighbor as ourselves.

I’m human too and I know there are some difficult people out there who are hard to love. I get it. But is it easier to be perfect every day of our life in word, thought, and deed or to do our best to love people? He is not even expecting us to love perfectly. He knows we can’t so He just asks us to do our best. It seems that God has reduced our debt to pennies on the dollar and more. Is it easier to be perfect or just do our best to love others? Is it easier to repay a million-dollar debt or give someone a thank you card for canceling the debt?

Shouldn’t we be more than willing to do this considering the grace He has lavished upon us?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for paying a debt I could never pay. Help me to never forget, to remain thankful that I might always strive to love others better to honor You for all You have done. Amen.

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