Daily Reading: Romans 12-13
Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. (Romans 13.8)
Devotional Thought: "What payments can you afford?" That question - often asked by car salesmen - drives me nuts! "I'm not here to discuss my budget! I just want to buy a car!" Debt is a killer when it comes to family finances. I'm of the old school and feel you should not take on personal debt for anything except your house and maybe your vehicle. As you get older you should even get in the position that you don’t go in debt for your vehicle, and you should pay off your home as soon as possible. (Students often have to incur debt, too.)
Debt ruins not only households, but also nations, too. We all know what mismanaged debt did to the national and world economy when the housing market collapsed in 2008. Even now we are nervously watching our federal government spend itself into collapse.
The Bible warns against debt. There is, however, one biblical exception to being in debt: We should maintain the debt of love to one another. What a beautiful thought! We are indebted to love one another and that is a debt we should never seek to get out from under. Rather we should continually seek to pay it!
Why are we indebted to love another? The answer is simple: Jesus. God, through Jesus Christ, has given you infinite, eternal love. When you receive that love, you assume the debt to love him and others. The reason we stayindebted even after making payments of love? Loving another, our own lives are enriched, and that piles on even more debt!
So, go out today and make payments on that debt of love. And, be thankful that you can never pay it back!
Prayer: Lord, Jesus, thank you that you loved me so much that you gave your life for me. Help me to pay back that debt by obeying your command to love others. Amen.
Psalm of the Day: 26.9-12
9 Do not sweep my soul away with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
10 in whose hands are evil devices, and whose right hands are full of bribes.
11 But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me.
12 My foot stands on level ground; in the great assembly I will bless the LORD.
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