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Romans 13:8-10
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
New International Version (NIV)
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Do you know how much we owe? Am I the only one to receive an invoice with a misplaced decimal point leading to momentary arrhythmia? In a pastoral ethics course, my co-teacher Dr. Robert Creech envisions ethics through the lens of what we owe others. What do I owe God? My family? My church? My co-workers? My fellow-pastors in the community?
Paul wrote, "I am debtor to the Jew and to the Greek." He was keenly aware of what he owed. After extolling the institution of government (without blessing the misuses of governmental authority), Paul says "Give everyone what you owe them in taxes, revenue, respect and honor." Again, Paul writes that God has established government and at its best it offers freedom to minister. When government is clearly in the wrong, Paul does not advocate submitting. The American Revolution grew out of a protest. I don't believe he would have said of a genocidal ruler: do everything he says. Christians pay taxes and pray for our rulers.
The only debt that we never pay off is the debt to love one another. When we love our neighbors as we love ourselves we end up fulfilling all the commandments. Love will keep us from adultery, murder, theft, and coveting. We can start with the oath, "Do no harm." To love another is to will their good. Whom will we love today? God willed our good when he gave us his only Son. Because God so loved us, we are debtors. Whatever else we do today, let us be sure to love one another.
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Pray with me:
Father, we thank you for the institution of government. We pray for our President, Vice-President, Senators and Representatives, Governor, Mayor and County Judge. These are difficult days. Give them uncommon wisdom to make decisions that help all people. We pray for the poor and the mistreated in our country. Make us instruments of your peace, Father. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
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Join us in memorizing the Word. Scripture for this week:
Matthew 6:1-2
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
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| Our 2020 Every Day with Jesus readings will follow the Foundations New Testament reading plan. Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy at REPLICATE.ORG
We would love for you to join us as we read the New Testament through this year, five chapters a week. In addition I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year. Use Robby Gallaty’s H. E. A. R. plan to study each chapter (also found at REPLICATE.ORG). Highlight verses which speak to you, explain what they mean in your own words in a journal, apply them to your own life, then respond by doing what God tells you to do.
Joyfully,
Duane
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