Pay Your Debt
Romans 13:8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
Hey! Hi and Hello. This is the last Monday of February my P.R.E.T.T.Y crew. This month we turned inward, focusing on self- care, self-growth, and growing in relationship with God. Today we are diving into our relationships with others. There is nothing worse than having creditors call you to collect a debt. How much worse is it when the Holy Spirit calls and says your love bill is past due? Loving others is one debt you will never finish paying off. It almost seems like a trap, doesn’t it? God commands us to “love your neighbor as yourself” then he tells us to go ahead and get in debt for the cause. When you attach such a negative word to such a positive sentiment, baby, all emotion leaves the heart. It is that very negative idea that keeps us from paying that debt in full. The word debt will have you searching the inner crevices of your heart when that payment is due. Especially if that person has wronged you or doesn’t deserve your love. Yet, God still brings forth this command to love one another. He asks that we be more than willing to owe it to each other, and even more willing to pay it out to one another. It is a debt that is on a continuous collection cycle and is written into the law of God. The word law in the Greek translation had a range of meanings, but it is believed that in this scripture it refers to law as a fundamental truth revealed in nature. So, to take things just a step further, God is saying that the foundation for our system of beliefs and behavior is for one to be continuously and swiftly paying out love in full whether we feel they deserve it or not. And careful to pay the debt with a smile on your face because God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). Now, if you’re wondering how to even go about loving someone in the way God is calling you to, then don’t hesitate to follow his example. As we know from our February 14 newsletter, God calls us to love sacrificially. He tells us our love must be fierce enough to put our own lives on the line. Then he shows us how to do it. He uses himself as an example so that we might follow in his footsteps. And when we live as God tells us, and live as the Word shows us, then we are one step closer to fulfilling the law as God intended. You can go ahead and break the law if you want to. Go ahead and go into debt. All I know is I’m not about to have God calling me and knocking on the door of my heart saying I owe anybody a single cent of love. Cause I’m paying ‘em out baby! Let's finish February in a P.R.E.T.T.Y way!
