Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. – (Romans 13:8, NIV)
You should owe nothing to anyone, except that you will always owe love to each other. The person who loves others has done all that the law commands. – (Romans 13:8, ERV)
Don’t owe anyone anything, with the exception of love to one another – that is a debt which never ends – because the person who loves others has fulfilled the law. – (Romans 13:8, VOICE)
To owe someone creates a feeling of being bound to that person until the debt is repaid, yet with love, because it has been freely given, we can do the same for others. God loved us more than our hearts can contain, and consequently, we are created with the capacity to pour out love to others from the overflow of what we are continually given. When we choose to love, we are fulfilling the law, as love abides by what we have been commanded. Love does not harm, steal, covet, put anything above God, use His name in vain, dishonor parents, kill, commit adultery, lie, and love sets aside time for the One who gave all out of love. It is a treasure how God brings people into our lives who are living examples of loving well. Two of such examples in our lives are our dearest friends. We have spent the last twelve days with them, in their home, and have loved every minute of our time together. I cannot believe that today is our final day, and that we head home this afternoon. They are generous and kind, faithful and full of love and life, and a joy to be around. There are not words to adequately express my appreciation and gratitude for our time together. Somehow, it is always the perfect mix of going and doing, and simply just being together. May we ever give God thanks for His generous love, and how it is made tangible by those around us.
All thanks be to God,
for abundant love;
a gift that abounds,
as He freely gives.
It’s made tangible,
through those in our lives;
placed purposefully,
to help our hearts thrive.
Our charge is to give,
love abundantly;
to all whom we meet,
a gift that is free.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your generous and overwhelming love that is poured out by You and by those whom You have placed in our lives. Thank You for the treasure of community that is found in dear friends. Forgive us for not giving love as freely as You give to us. Teach us how to seek You to lead us to love well. Show us how to love those around us in ways that make Your love known. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we thank You and praise You for the blessings of Your love that we receive and can then pour out to others. Amen.
© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. – Ephesians 2:10