5-23-2014

Good Morning All,

        1 Timothy 2:6; “who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.”

     $11.15 trillion.  That is what the aggregate consumer debt in the United States was at the end of 2013.  That is $11,150,000,000,000.00; yikes!!!  That is a lot of money.  Personally, I think that number is a little low.  I think almost all Americans owe more money than they actually admit to.  They may have some hidden debt that they conveniently forgot.  They may be buying a TV from a rent to own store.  They may be repaying for a car repair.  They may be making payments on a lay away purchase.  They may be paying a little bit a month to their neighbor for a boat or something that nobody knows about.  I may be cynical but I would guess we owe more than we really admit to owing. 

     Then if you add in the federal national debt which is $17.5 trillion ($17,474,314,085,413 as of May 1, 2014).  Then if you add in any state or local debt that is owed; we are truly a nation of debtors.  We really do have to sing with the 7 dwarfs, “I owe, I owe, it’s off to work we go!”  As you look at that number, can we ever really ever pay all that off?  How??  That is for smarter minds than mine; I just try to keep my payments current.

    Yet, just think, what if someone, somewhere, somehow came in and paid off all that debt?  How would you respond?  Just think, your house is paid for, your car, your student loan, your credit card bill, any little hidden bills you have, all of your taxes, even your share of the national debt was all paid off; what would that be like?  While we ponder that we would probably think that we really have no clue what that would mean to us, yet we have, and do, experience that event in our life every day.

    God sent Jesus to pay off your debt of sin.  The debt of sin which we owed would make these numbers look tiny.  Yet it is paid, in full, so that you may be called the “sons of God.”  By being “sons of God” we have all the rights and privileges that go with that.  We are heirs to the kingdom (eternal life), we can go to the Father (prayer), we have the love of the family (the holy church and the consolation from the brothers and sisters in Christ), we have the authority to do the family business (expand the kingdom of God).  All this because Jesus paid off your debt.

    So live your life debt-free.  Celebrate that you are no longer indebted but in fact are credited with righteousness.  Live as if you have all you need for we truly do have everything that we need.  Live the life that is a crucial part of God’s family business.  Seek out your neighbor and offer them God’s grace.  Share with them God’s love.  Your debt is gone so spend your life in fellowship with God and his family.

Wonderful Lord, you give to us the incredible gift of eternal life.  You bring us into your family and give to us the greatness of your grace.  Guard us from those things which may cause us to move from you.  Protect us from the barbs of the devil.  Be with those who still carry the burden of debt.  Free them so that they may love as you have loved them.  In Jesus, precious name we pray, amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret