Romans 13:8 (NIV) Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.

Back in 1950, a businessman was out dining and when he went to pay for his meal, he realized that he had forgotten his wallet. That's when he got the idea of a credit card and shortly thereafter, the Diners Club card became the first credit card in the world. By 1951, there were 42,000 card carrying Diners Club members. Ever since that time, credit cards have become as common or even more common than physical money. Because of that, a lot of people have gotten into heavy debt. Once you are in debt, it is very difficult to get out of debt.

But before credit cards came into the picture, we all owed a debt that we could not pay and would never be able to pay. That debt was the debt that we owed to God for all the sins that we have committed. Everyone has sinned and broken the commandments of God. This debt is only payable by death (Romans 6:23). But God, in an act of incredible mercy and grace, paid the debt for us by coming to this earth to die in our place as a sacrifice for our sins. That debt now is forgiven when you receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life (thank the Lord!).

But there is another debt that God has left in place and will never remove, and that is the debt of loving others. This is a revolving debt that will be in place from the moment you receive Jesus into your heart and that will never be paid off. It is actually impossible to pay off...if Christ Jesus lives in your heart, that is. Because God is love, when He comes to dwell in you, His love comes into your life as well. It is one of the signs that you have been truly born again. Jesus said that we would be known as His disciples by the fact that we love each other (John 13:35). It is the mark of someone whose life has been transformed by God. The debt to love others is an awesome debt to owe because it's the only debt that has blessings attached to it. Your own life expands and prospers the more payments that you make towards it. Peace and joy also come along for the ride of your life because of this continuing, never-ending debt. If there ever was a great reason to be in debt over your head, this is it. Continue to pay this debt and enjoy and be blessed by each payment that you make! The more in over your head that you go into this debt, the greater the blessings and the more God's favor will shine on you.

Pastor Joey Vazquez