Bible Verse of the Day Tuesday June 20th, 2023

Romans 13:8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.

Jesus paid a debt, and we owe a debt, but praise the Lord; we do not have to pay the sinful debt because Jesus covered that for us on the Cross of Calvary. However, we owe others the equal love, respect, and grace God has given us. The selfless sacrifice and love displayed by Jesus on the Cross have redeemed us from the marketplace of slavery, sin, and death. God only asks that we ignite love in our hearts and souls, in and through the Holy Spirit, to love other people as He loves us.

As Christians, we have one fundamental responsibility to others: to show Christ's love. We do not owe a debt to God, but we do possess an obligation to others, the debt of love. When we genuinely show Christian love to those we encounter, we fulfill the Mosaic Law. True Christian love is at the heart of the Law, not something that runs alongside the Law. The Law cannot lead us into a love for other people simply because Godly love is not some outward conformity to legalistic rules. The Law is foundational on liberty and respect for others; a person will not cheat on their marriage vows or cause harm to another person, physically or spiritually, if they have completely surrendered their hearts to Christ Jesus.

There is no way we will ever be able to repay the love debt we owe to others; however, God has given us the means to bestow that payment whenever it becomes necessary. True Christian love maintains the well-being of others in our sight, always positioned toward other people. Christian love is not an emotion we can turn off and on at our pleasure. It will never choose people to love corresponding to our inclination, whether we see them as lovable or not. Self-absorbed individuals will always hold themselves above others; their rights and pleasures will always precede the other person's. Love does not replace or supplant the Law. Moreover, this does not mean that the Law is love, but that love fulfills the Law.

We might pay all our civic and monetary obligations; we might even always pay proper respect to all we encounter and feel we have no other commitments. However, we will never see the day come when we might say: "I have loved all I need to love." True Christian love shown to all people is an unending and constant obligation. It is a debt that we will never be able to discharge in this life.