Read: Romans 13:8-10
In verse 7 Paul exhorts the believer to pay to everyone any debt that they owe. But there is one debt that Christians can never repay. One obligation that will never be completely fulfilled or satisfied. What is that debt? The continuing debt to love one another. With a beautiful turn of phrase Paul brings our attention back to the love and devotion that believers are to have for one another. An obligation that we can never completely fulfil or discharge.
Paul’s main point is not that Christian’s shouldn’t have loans. Paul is not suggesting that Christians avoid debt entirely but that they fulfil their obligations in repaying their debts. Christians should be diligent in repaying any loans and fulfilling their obligations with integrity (vs 7). Instead he is illustrating the depth of love that believers are to have for one another. They are to be committed and devoted to one another, not as a once off event but as an ongoing obligation to love and serve each other. The kind of debt that can never be paid off. This is the kind of love that Paul has been talking about since Romans 12:9. The kind of love that serves and honours others above ourselves. The kind of love that gives generously and shows hospitality. This is the kind of devoted, committed love that believers are to show to one another.
By showing this kind of love towards one another the Christian is fulfilling one of the two commands that sum up the whole law (Matthew 22:34-40): “Love your neighbour as yourself.” Paul shows how this is the case. No one will murder another person if they truly love them and are devoted to them. No one will commit adultery against another person if they truly love them. No one will covet the possessions of someone when they truly love them and are devoted to them. By loving one another all these commands are fulfilled and kept by the Christian.
But the love that believers have for one another goes far beyond merely avoiding harming others. We have seen throughout chapters 12 and 13 so far that loving other believers involves serving them, being devoted to them, being willing to love them and care for them, bearing their burdens, encouraging them and giving generously to them. This kind of love is indeed a costly debt, one that requires we sacrifice of ourselves to serve and love others. In order to repay this debt we need to give of ourselves for the sake of others.
Paul makes it clear that this is not the kind of debt that could be repaid by a single act of extraordinary kindness. This is the kind of debt that continues and can never be repaid. There is never a day when we can say that we have loved others enough and now it’s our turn to get some love. There is never a day where we can refuse to love others any more. Whether we are young or old, male or female, rich or poor, busy or with plenty of time we all have a debt to love and serve one another. Let’s get paying our debt!
Prayer:
Use the Bible passage from today and the reading notes to write down your prayer points before you pray.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Continue to pray for Extreme Week today. Pray that the leaders would have energy and strength for the remaining days of the week. Pray that God would strengthen and encourage them in this important work. Pray that the children would have a fun week and that they would be challenged to follow Jesus. Pray that God would be preparing and softening their hearts.
¥ Pray for the Talent Night at ChristLife tonight as part of Extreme Week. Pray that God would be bringing families along to be part of the night. Pray that God would reach many parents and children and bring them to Him.
Sometimes we need help from God to cultivate and strengthen love for others in our hearts. Take time to regularly pray that God would help you love and serve other believers.
1. Individually, what are some ways that you can love and serve one another?
2. As a group, what are some ways that you can love and serve others in the church? What can you do to sacrificially serve others?
Intro: Sometimes it can be really hard to love other people. Sometimes people do things that make us not want to love them. What should we do?
Share: A time when you found it hard to love someone. What happened? What did you do? How can you love someone when it is hard?
Read: Romans 13:8 Paul tells the believers to always love one another. We don’t stop loving other believers ever, we are always to love others. What do you think it looks like to love another believer? Who are some of the believers in your life who you can love? How could you show them you love them?
Pray Together: Thank God that He loves us even when we sin.
Read: Romans 13:8 Paul tells the believers to always love one another. We don’t stop loving other believers ever, we are always to love others. What do you think it looks like to love another believer? Who are some of the believers in your life who you can love? How could you show them you love them?
Pray Together: Thank God that He loves us even when we sin.
Intro: Sometimes it can be really hard to love other people. Sometimes people do things that make us not want to love them. What should we do?
Share: A time when you found it hard to love someone. What happened? What did you do? How can you love someone when it is hard?
Read: Romans 13:8 Paul tells the believers to always love one another. We don’t stop loving other believers ever, we are always to love others. What do you think it looks like to love another believer? Who are some of the believers in your life who you can love? How could you show them you love them?
Pray Together: Thank God that He loves us even when we sin.
Read: Romans 13:8 Paul tells the believers to always love one another. We don’t stop loving other believers ever, we are always to love others. What do you think it looks like to love another believer? Who are some of the believers in your life who you can love? How could you show them you love them?
Pray Together: Thank God that He loves us even when we sin.
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