Debt

Today we will look at "forgive us our debts "You and I owe a Debt we cannot pay.

Paul put it this way

Roman 1:14
I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. It goes like this "Two people you and I have never met, who lived some place we've never been, have gotten us in some kind of trouble we can't get out of." We owe a debt we can't pay. The Greek meaning of the word "debt" something owed. Let me give you an example when you and I disobey God's commands. He tells us to go south and we go north. He tells us to turn right and we turn left. He tells us to love our neighbor and we hurt our neighbor. Instead of seeking His will, we seek ours. He tells us to forgive our enemies, but we attack our enemies. We disobey God. He makes the universe and we applaud science. He heals the sick and we applaud medicine. He grants beauty and we credit Mother Nature. He gives us possessions and we salute our human ingenuity. We disobey God. Let's look at a man who disobeyed God; you know him by the name of Jonah.

Jonah 1:1
Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,

Jonah 1:2
Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.

Jonah1:3
But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
How in the world could Jonah do such a thing? The same way you and I do. God says speak to this or that person and we don't so much as utter a word. God calls us to do something and we ignore His calling. So what's the big deal? Let me ask you a question does God put things in the Bible just for our reading enjoyment? I don't think so! If you and I deny Christ's commands or disobey His commission is it sinful and tragic? Jonah's attitude and actions toward God's commands should give every Christian a fearful example of what it means to doubt our Lord's commands or disobey them.

Jonah's Conduct Should Caution Every Christian

Jonah rose up to flee; he refused to follow the Lord. He went to Tarshish a sinful city; everything that Jonah did to disobey he had to work at it. The bible says he:

#1-went down to Joppa

#2- He found a ship

#3-He paid the fare and once again we read he went down

#4-He left the presence of the Lord.

Jonah's Chastisement Was Dreadful

Jonah 1:15
So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.

Jonah 1:17
Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Back to the debt we can't pay; would you and I go into debt if we were to disrespect God's children? What if you and I did to others what we do to God? What if you or I were to shout at each other's children in the presence of their earthly parents? What if we were to call them names or even hit them? Would the parent tolerate it? Probably not! But is that not what we do to each other? Wonder how God feels when we mistreat one of His Children? When we say bad things about them? When we criticize and gossip about them or speak about them before we speak to them? Are we taking care of our Debt? I'll tell you how Tuesday. May the Lord bless you this week as you prepare your heart for Sunday? Pray for yourself and for your Pastor as we enjoy another Easter service.