365 Days with God - Day 71: In Debt

I'm giving myself a challenge. Read the Bible each day for a whole year, following the ESV Study Guide 1-year plan. Each day, I will post whatever God has revealed to me in His Word, and how it is changing me. A friend of mine once said that nothing has changed her life as much as reading the bible each day - and I'm excited for how this will change me. Join me on an adventure into the heart of God - and day by day, we can learn more about who He is and what that means to us!

- Andy Catts

Day 71, March 1, 2014

Readings: Psalm 71, Exodus 17, Ezra 7, Romans 8:1-17

Debt. For better or worse (okay, worse) our nation and it's people are mired in a significant amount of debt. Debt for things we can't afford - whether it's government programs or a shiny new car. This debt makes us beholden, obligated, to someone or something. We are required to live up to the terms of our commitment. But the "reward" for doing so is merely being allowed to keep what we've already received - whatever item(s) we got in debt for. It's maintenance.

What about spiritual debt? Does such a thing exist? If debt is a contractual requirement to make payment, then yes, we are all in spiritual debt as well.

So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:12-16)

Either way, we are in debt. If we live without God, we are living in debt to sin, and "The wages of sin is death." If we proclaim ourselves to be Christians, following Christ, we are debtors to Christ. The beauty of this debt is that it leads to life! We are adopted sons of God, able to call on Him as father. Is this a debt we can repay? Is this something we can earn?

No, it is a debt we can never repay, it is something we can never earn. We are eternally in debt to God, but He is good, gracious and loving. Rather than call us on our debt, rather than take us to account, He has given us His kingdom. We are fellow heirs with His son. He is the King who gives His kingdom. He is the God who saves, who loves.