The Unpayable Debt of Salvation
Have you ever stopped to consider what you owe Jesus? It’s a question that can leave us feeling overwhelmed and unsure. After all, the price of salvation – Jesus’ righteous life lived on our behalf and His dying in our place – is of infinite value. It’s a debt we can never hope to repay on our own.
A Debt of Infinite Value
The reality is, we’ve all been offered salvation at an astronomical discount. But what does that discount entail? It requires everything we have, all that we are, and everything we hope to be. It’s a steep price, one that can feel daunting and even impossible to pay. And yet, it’s precisely this kind of surrender that God is looking for.
The Widow’s Mite
We’re reminded of the story of the destitute widow in the temple, who gave all that she had with humility and sincerity. Her small offering became a sufficient token of faith, moving God to grant her the riches of salvation in Christ. It’s a powerful reminder that our efforts, no matter how small they may seem, can have a profound impact when offered with a humble heart.
Not a Debt Collection Program
But here’s the thing: Christianity is not a debt collection program. We’re not expected to make weekly payments to God, trying to pay Him back for all that He’s done for us. Rather, we’re called to live a life of obedience, one that acknowledges our constant need for His grace and mercy.
Deeper in Debt to God
As John Piper so eloquently puts it, “You shouldn’t think of obedience as a mortgage payment, trying to pay God back month by month until you get the debt paid off. Rather, we should think that obedience is going deeper in debt to God every moment, because it takes more grace to be obedient this afternoon than I had yesterday.” It’s a radical shift in perspective, one that recognizes our complete dependence on God’s goodness and love.
A Life of Thankfulness and Anticipation
So why do we follow Jesus? We do so out of thankfulness for all that He has done for us, and in anticipation of all the good gifts He plans to work in and through us the rest of our lives. We obey Him not to pay off a debt, but because we’re grateful for the gift of salvation and eager to see what He has in store for us.
A Heartfelt Prayer
Jesus, thank you for accepting the small token of my whole life as an act of faith in you. Thank you for living the perfect life I could never live and for dying the death I deserve. I trust and obey you today, confident in the beautiful and good things you have in store for me. Amen.
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