ROMANS 13:8

“Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the Law.”

In Luke’s account of Jesus’ instructions to the disciples on how to pray (the Lord’s Prayer) it reads in Luke 11:4, “And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.” The word “indebted” is the same word used in Romans 13:8 for “owe.” It’s the Greek word opheílō which “refers to being morally obligated (or legally required) to meet an obligation, i.e. to pay off a legitimate debt.” (HELPS Word-studies) Let’s look at our indebtedness.

Paul tells us in today’s verse to NOT be indebted, to NOT owe anyone anything except love. I would love to be completely debt free. But like most people (at least here in the U.S.) I have a house mortgage and some other debts. I am indebted to others to pay off these debts. But there is one debt I should continue to pay – love for one another. After telling us in verse 7 to pay what is due to others, he drives the nail home with this verse. The most important debt to pay is love.

APPLICATION

MacLaren says about this verse, “the debt of love is never discharged. After all payments it still remains owing. There is no paying in full of all demands, and, as Bengel says, it is an undying debt.” The end of today’s verse reminds me of the words of Jesus in Matthew 22:39. He told us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Do you love yourself? Then love your neighbors as well.

And what is this love with which we are love others? It’s God’s love, of course. If you haven’t discovered it yet, you will. There are some people who are just hard to love. I could name a few, lol. The good news is you don’t have to. What? That’s right. God will love them through you. You just have to die to yourself and allow Him to.

1 John 4:16 tells us, “We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.” If you are a child of God, His love is in you. And if His love is in you, it wants to get out! Let it out. Keep letting it out.

Thank You, Father, for Your love which lives in me.

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