| Romans 13:8 "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law." If we are not indebted to anyone, we are simply passively following the law. "Let no debt remain outstanding," however, means we ought to proactively take initiative in testifying for love. Christians living in the world should not just be a law-abiding citizen, but to feel indebted to others. Chinese people call this a "debt of relationship"; we should feel like we owe a debt to those we have relationship with, so that we will try our best to be graceful to them. I once read an article titled "beyond doing the right thing." Christians should do the right thing because that's our duty, but we need to go beyond that by doing more, such as proactively caring for the needs of others. On the outside we can easily claim we don't owe anything to anyone and we won't hurt anybody; however, there might be a totally different story inside us. If you have an enemy at work who's more capable and popular than you and really knows how to please everyone, you'd probably hold a grudge against him inside. Finally, the day has come when he made a big mistake and your boss fired him, and then you'd feel ecstatic inside. We are often happy when others suffers, because when others fail it makes us look more successful, and when others sin we look more holy. Indeed, we may never be indebted to anyone, and their failure may really have nothing to do with us. We, however, did not show our love and express our concern when they fail, but rather we would just ridicule them from the sideline. The fact is that when we act according to the law, we can only reveal the unrighteousness of people, but we can't bring them into righteousness to make up for the shortfall from their sin. Nevertheless, when we accept others with love, we bring hope to the sinners, for love will turn hearts back to God and fill up all the shortfalls from sin. That's why Paul said that "for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law." Are you willing to go the extra mile in your daily life? We should not be indebted to people, but we ought to feel indebted to those around us. Pray with Pastor Tong Liu 
Lord, please pour the love of the cross into our hearts; let us be willing to walk an extra mile for you. Let us feel indebted in everything, so that we will pass on your love to everyone around us. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen! |
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