What we owe God
David Johnston
What we Owe God
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Two months ago I bought a $100 phone for my son when he lost his when it fell out of his pocket on the Hulk Coaster at Universal Studios. Then, a month ago I paid $200 to fix the brakes on his ’92 Bonneville. At that time Davey said, “I will pay you back as soon as I get the money.” My son goes to college and works as a janitor for less than $10 an hour…so he doesn’t have a lot of extra cash lying around. I said, “That’s OK, Day, you can pay me back whatever you want, whenever you want.” But, I really didn’t have any expectation of him paying me back. As his dad I was happy that I could help him out a bit.
Last Wednesday night I came to our church youth group meeting and found a note from Davey on my office desk that read, “Dad, Here is half of what I owe you. I can get you the other half next Weds. I love you! Davey” I saw him that night and told him, “Thanks for the money, Day, that’s really great!”…but I had this weird feeling. It occurred to me that it really didn’t matter to me at all whether Davey paid me back or not, and I told him so. Yes, I was surprised and happy to suddenly have an extra $100 cash in my pocket, but I really didn’t have any expectation of needing that money from my son. In my mind I had totally forgiven him of his debt of $300. Any money he paid me back was just extra, like getting a gift from him.
At the same moment it occurred to me that’s how God looks at my sin! It is totally forgiven in Jesus. There is nothing I can do to get any more of His forgiveness than He has already given me through His Son. It’s a done deal! Anything I do in service, ministry, worship, praise, etc. is simply to thank God for what he has already done! It’s my gift back to thank him for His gift to me! John 1:12 reads, “But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, he gave the right to become the children of God.” When you are God’s child you get the rights and privileges of a son! I’m going to enjoy it this Easter!
What we Owe God
Two months ago I bought a $100 phone for my son when he lost his when it fell out of his pocket on the Hulk Coaster at Universal Studios. Then, a month ago I paid $200 to fix the brakes on his ’92 Bonneville. At that time Davey said, “I will pay you back as soon as I get the money.” My son goes to college and works as a janitor for less than $10 an hour…so he doesn’t have a lot of extra cash lying around. I said, “That’s OK, Day, you can pay me back whatever you want, whenever you want.” But, I really didn’t have any expectation of him paying me back. As his dad I was happy that I could help him out a bit.
Last Wednesday night I came to our church youth group meeting and found a note from Davey on my office desk that read, “Dad, Here is half of what I owe you. I can get you the other half next Weds. I love you! Davey” I saw him that night and told him, “Thanks for the money, Day, that’s really great!”…but I had this weird feeling. It occurred to me that it really didn’t matter to me at all whether Davey paid me back or not, and I told him so. Yes, I was surprised and happy to suddenly have an extra $100 cash in my pocket, but I really didn’t have any expectation of needing that money from my son. In my mind I had totally forgiven him of his debt of $300. Any money he paid me back was just extra, like getting a gift from him.
At the same moment it occurred to me that’s how God looks at my sin! It is totally forgiven in Jesus. There is nothing I can do to get any more of His forgiveness than He has already given me through His Son. It’s a done deal! Anything I do in service, ministry, worship, praise, etc. is simply to thank God for what he has already done! It’s my gift back to thank him for His gift to me! John 1:12 reads, “But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, he gave the right to become the children of God.” When you are God’s child you get the rights and privileges of a son! I’m going to enjoy it this Easter!