19 Debt of Love

Let no debt remain outstanding except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.

Romans 13:8

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:8

Have you ever considered love as a debt you owe someone? Something that must be paid? Something that you can never fully repay?

Jesus’ love for us was so great that it was sufficient to cover the debt of sin of the whole of mankind when he died on the cross for us. Because he first loved us we can now love others deeply and fully. Our sins are forgiven, our debt to God, built up over the ages, has been wiped out by Jesus’ sacrifice. We now have no debts left outstanding because of the love of Jesus. Except the debt of love we owe to each other. Our love has the power to wipe out the debts others owe us and cover over their sins against us.

This, my friend, is true freedom. Not to owe or be owed to. To love unconditionally and unendingly. When we love each other, we fulfil the law of God. Remember the two commandments that sum up the law:

Love God with all your heart, mind, and soul

Love your neighbour as yourself

Matthew 22

Both Paul and Peter understood these commands of Jesus and that our debt is one of love that we must pay forward to those around us. No compromise.

Prayer: Lord, my prayer, as I sit here at the breakfast table on Christmas Day, is that I will always know your great love poured out for me and that I will be able to, each day, pay that love forward to my family, my friends, work colleagues, and to those strangers you bring into my life.

Amen

Action: Today, is there someone you struggle to love? Seek God for an outpouring of new and abiding love for that person – it is your debt of love.Journal your thoughts: