Scripture to Read: Romans 13:8
We begin this week in Romans 13:8, as God had Paul write to us telling us that we should owe no one except to love one another and to seek the best for all. God goes on and has Paul write, “for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.” We’ll unpack what fulfilling the law looks like in tomorrow’s devotion as we cover Romans 13:9. But today, we’ll focus on owing nothing to anyone and loving as God commands us to love. Unfortunately, our society today, which has been this way since the 1950s, lives with an attitude that if we can’t afford it, then let’s put it on credit. Now, as we ended our devotions yesterday, we saw that God had told us to pay back to everyone what we owe them. So, in Romans 13:8, God wants to make sure we understand that we are not to be in debt. The only thing we should owe anyone are items that appreciate in value. For example, a house is a good investment. Many people will say, “But that is impossible in this day and time—how can you have anything unless you buy on credit?” God desires us to be good stewards of all we have been given, for it’s all been given by Him (James 1:17). When we are in debt, we have a new “master” and that “master” rules our life. We must be careful to honor our Lord in what we have so that we can share with others in need (Proverbs 22:7, Luke 6:34–35).
Challenge & Application
· Why is it hard to obey the things God has placed before us today in Romans 13:8?
· How will you submit to God’s Truth in what He taught you and how can you help others to do the same?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!