"DEBT OF LOVE"

Image by viking_79 via Flickr
Good Evening to All!

Before I start my post, First let me say that I do have a very good friend here in town that helps me with some things on the computer such as graphics or some advice on advertising. Lynette at Crazed Mind is a dear friend and I love her to death. That being said, I am truly excited I finally got to talk to my "computer hero" today on the phone for the first time. Redhead Riter and I have been blogging friends, chat friends and e-mail friends for almost two years, but have never spoken live to one another. It was great. Call me quirky, but I like to match faces with voices. Of course, my computer was acting up so we were on the phone for over an hour while I tried to bring up my blog. What she did only took her a few minutes, and she said she had a very fast computer. We compared our computers to cars Her's was a Ferrari and mine is so slow I can't remember what it was. I know horse and buggy were mention at least once! LOL! Redhead Riter, designed my blog, and has literally sat up on the computer with me until 2 and 3am trying to get bugs which "I" created out of my blog. She will spend time fixing something, and somehow, I'll come along and "with good intentions of helping" end up messing it up worse than before. Anyway, HERE'S TO YOU RED! This is the closest I'll ever get to an alcoholic drink! LOL!

Today's Seed: Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute s due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to
whom honour. (8) Owe no man an thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Romans 13:7-8 KJV

"Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fullfilled the law." Romans 13:7-8 NIV

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Some of us dread the arrival of the mail. Those envelopes with windows mean that another bill has arrived.

The Bible's way of dealing with debt is simple. If you owe someone money, pay it it back! There is one debt, however, that Paul encourages. In fact, he says, let it continue! That's our debt to love one another. It may feel strange to consider that loving one another could be called a debt. When writing to the Romans for Corinth on what was probably his third missionary journey, Paul wanted them to feel the obligation to love one another. He also made clear that they should love their fellowman, according to the Mosaic law, which set down moral and social responsibilities.

The basis for our debt of love to others is the debt relief Christ granted us by saving us. We owe Christ-0-are in debt to Christ--for His all-encompassing love for us. The only proper response to Christ's love is to love others the way He has loved us.

Since Christ's love for us will always be more than what we mortals can produce, we will be continually in debt. But being in debt to Christ carries no fear of a canceled account. Christ's love for us is unending.

Dig Deeper: The Greek word for "owe" is opheilo, which means to be indebted and to be bound. It implies moral obligation and personal responsibility.


Weed & Water: Sometimes--perhaps a lot of time--it's not easy to love our fellowman or woman as Paul encouraged. Some people are just not very lovable. OR maybe we're the ones who have a hard time letting down our guard and allowing others into our lives, but according to God's Word, we have this debt to pay. Loving one another is the only way it can be paid. So, take it one person at a time.

Sprout & Scatter: Love for fellow Christians and people in general is central to God's law. Just as we make sure we pay our bills, we can open our hearts to those around us. There are many ways. Volunteer at church, in a soup kitchen, r at a youth organization. Give both time and money to a worthwhile charity. When driving, we can wave a driver to enter traffic in front of us, hoping that driver will pass our goodwill on to others.

Think about it: To whom do you owe a debt of respect or honor?

How can you take the first steps in following the law to love one another?

Prayer Pot: Lord, help me to pay my debt to others by. . . (Insert your own requests).

Take -Away Idea: Be debt free, except the debt to love one another.

Good Night To All and May God Bless!