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Remember, we forgive graciously because we have been so graciously forgiven | New Hope for the Week
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Remember, we forgive graciously because we have been so graciously forgiven

Today I will:

  • be prompt in returning favors or things I have borrowed
  • honor those who have authority over me
  • repay my debts promptly

Owe no one anything except to love one another. Romans 13:8 (NKJV)

When Paul spoke of submitting to and honoring authority in Romans 13, it is interesting that he closed the discussion with this thought: "Owe no one anything except to love them." In other words, as far as tariffs and taxes were concerned, pay them promptly and fully according to the law. We are to speak respectfully and honor those who represent the government, whether we are talking about the President's last address on television or the police officer who pulls us over because we missed a stop sign. Many have preached by extension that this scripture also means paying our bills and invoices in a timely manner, returning things that we have borrowed as promptly as we can, and running our businesses in such a way that we "owe no one anything except to love them."

The implication of this interpretation is worth considering, in that the only debt we will never be able to pay off is that of "love." How can we, for instance, "owe love" to someone who clearly has never loved us? Why should we be nice to those who are cruel to us or respect authority that is immoral, corrupt, or just plain disagreeable? How do we "owe" anything to such people?

We are to repay the debt of love not because we owe them anything, but because we owe everything to Jesus for what His love did for us in providing' us forgiveness, redemption, and salvation. It is truly a debt we can never repay. Because Jesus doesn't need these things from us, He requires that we pay them to those who do. The debt of love is one we need to remember to make payments on daily for the rest of our lives.