Fresh Bread
      # 11

FREEDOM FROM DEBT
(False Debts)

      People are always trying to get out of debt. With all intentions of never getting into it again.
      There are physical debts and spiritual debts. The physical debts are obvious but we seldom think about getting out of spiritual debts.
      Our Lord gave me a deeper revelation this morning of all the spiritual debts I felt I owed. They were like burdens that I didn’t really know how to pay.
      He asked: “Who do you think you owe?”
      I thought about it and recognized that I felt I owed my children something (wasn’t quite sure what), but I did feel the pressure that I owed them something. Then I felt I owed my husband something because I had not been a good enough wife. Friends? Well, you never take a bowl back empty when someone brings you something to eat. In other words, it’s just common courtesy to always return favors. And if you don’t, you always feel like you owe them something. I probably even owed myself a little respect.
      Then I got to God. What did I feel I owed Him? And, do you know what the Holy Spirit said? He said, “You don’t owe Me anything.” WOW! Talk about a big burden lifted and debt paid.
      Yes, this statement can be answered in two distinct ways…one of God’s mysteries, I suspect. Of course, credit is due Him for our very lives and our Salvation. In that sense we owe Him for every thing we have and are. But, “We don’t OWE Him.” Our debt has been TOTALLY paid. And we are free from any burden of debt to God. Jesus took care of that for us.
      When I receive financial gifts from others, I understand that it is really from God so I don’t OWE these people. Yes, I am very grateful…but I’m comfortable in the fact that God is my Source. Of course, I’m not rude. But, I must be careful not to think that anyone else is my source, or that I owe them anything…other than (you know what) _ _ _ _.
      So I did a little practice and I said, “I owe no man, woman, child anything. Jesus paid my whole debt and is my constant provider. Now I am FREE to let Him live though me…blessing those He chooses to bless. Going where He wants to go; doing what He wants to do. I am no longer encumbered by false debts.
      Should I desire to feed the poor, help the weak, heal the sick, decorate a cake for someone, send a birthday card to my grandchild, call my mother-in-law, write an encouraging letter, or write a book or mow the grass, or go shopping, I am free to do so. Should I decide and desire to do one of these things, it’s okay. I’m FREE of any debt to man. I’m FREE to serve others just like my Jesus does.
      Then I turned the coin over. If I don’t owe anyone else anything, then they don’t owe me either. Praise God. What a neat revelation. I don’t want my children or friends to feel like they owe me anything. And I don’t think any of them feel like I owe them. Sometimes we even feel like we owe an explanation when someone asks us a question. You figure that one out. It’s Biblical to have a “ready answer”, but it doesn’t have to be a long sermon.
      Father God makes it easy for His children. He says:

                        Owe no man anything, but to
                        LOVE one another: for he that
                        LOVETH another hath FULL-filled the law.
                                                            (Romans 13:8).

      God’s Word tells us how to live an honorable life on earth. And to pay our physical debts is something we all try to do, but who can pay these “false spiritual debts” that keep us so busy and out of peace? The law is full Of “You should…you ought to, you owe me.” NO, our Lord says all these debts have been paid, Jesus fulfilled the Law and paid our debts. Now, as His SEED, we have no other desire than to go and do what the Holy Spirit directs us to do. Not out of a “have to” spirit, or because we feel we “owe” someone…but purely out of LOVE.