I used to owe a huge debt. In fact, it was so big that I had no hope of ever paying it off, even if I lived a hundred thousand years and worked like mad each waking moment. You know, of course, that I'm referring to my sin-debt, not financial bankruptcy. I've mentioned it a time or two this month, but in the last few days, I've been thinking. Thinking how drastically life changes when someone shackled by debt is suddenly debt-free. Why, it would completely turn one's life completely upside-down!
And that's exactly my story - in a spiritual sense.
When Jesus died, He said, "It is finished!" The phrase He used (Greek - tetelestai) has been found stamped across ancient bills. It is finished. Paid in full. Everything I owed and could never pay - His love and sacrifice on the cross paid it all. Amazing. Amazing grace!!
Funny, though, how quickly I forget. Well, not really funny. Ugly is more like it.
I forget that I was forgiven an impossible debt and get upset or snooty when I think someone owes me something. (Like the ten-thousand-talent servant in Matthew 18.)
Or I forget that I didn't get a loan, my debt was outright cancelled. I don't need to work to pay anything off.
Not only that, I sometimes forget that my account is now full of God's grace, and instead I act like I'm a spiritual beggar.
Or I let that grace sit there in my "bank" and don't share it with others who need what God has freely given.
It's ugly, all of it.
I have been forgiven. I am free. The infinite grace of God is mine - I am unbelievably rich!!!
Now I want to live like it. I want to remember the gift I have been given. More than that, I want to remember the Giver.
No comments:
Post a Comment