Entering the Year Debt-Free

As we enter a new year, it is a year full of promise and potential. But is it going to be different, better, more purposeful, more fruitful, more satisfying? Our choices will determine that – not our circumstances. What we think and say and do will determine the outcome of next year, regardless of what happens to us. When we say the Lord’s prayer we begin with our focus on our Father – Our Father in Heaven, holy is your name – meaning, your nature. Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. We often declare these phrases in prayer or in song. And it has occurred to me that his rule in our life – his will on earth is reflected in what follows. ‘Give us today our daily bread’. His will is to meet our daily physical needs. There is no lack in his Kingdom. When he is ruling we will not need to worry about our basic needs. ‘Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and everything else you need will be given you.’ Then there are our emotional/spiritual needs. “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.” This again reflects his rule in our lives. Forgiveness is at the heart of his Kingdom. Not just the Lord forgiving us, but us forgiving others – 70 x 7 Jesus said to Peter. Be unlimited in your forgiveness, because God’s mercy and forgiveness towards you is unlimited. James Jordan says that ‘if we knew the freedom forgiveness brings, we would LOVE forgiving.’ There is actually a version of the Lord’s Prayer which says, “Forgive us out debts, as we forgive our debtors.” It is very common to feel we are ‘in debt’ to God - that we owe him so much. In reality we do – if we only look at our merits, our achievements. But if this feeling persists in us, it means we haven’t understood the cross. Jesus hung on that cross as our representative. The one who suffered on behalf of all. He not only took into himself our actual sins, but he also carried our debts – all we have failed to do. All we owe God, was paid for by Jesus. Just like the parable of the unforgiving servant, whose huge, unpayable debt was cancelled… so has ours been. All our failures and inadequacies HAVE BEEN PAID FOR… already. There is nothing in the heart of our Father that says ‘you owe me.’ He only looks at Jesus and sees on our debts the words ‘PAID IN FULL’. Will you believe this as you go into this new year? Will you go into it ‘debt free’ - with a thankful heart for all Jesus bore for you on the cross? I think one of our struggles is that we cannot forgive ourselves for all our failures and lacks. We are ashamed – we feel foolish. Will we hold ourselves in debt when Father God refuses to do this? Ask the Spirit to show you how the Father sees you covered in the righteousness of Jesus. And submit your opinion of yourself to him. We need to stop listening to ‘the accuser’ and keep our ears open to the Spirit. Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. He does… always… but do we forgive our debtors? Are there people who you feel ‘owe’ you something? They owe you attention, or respect, or love, or an apology, an explanation or perhaps money… If you cannot think of them without a feeling of ‘being owed’ – then you still hold them in debt. And whatever they do that is good or helpful or right… you won’t be able to experience any pleasure or joy in what they do. Because this debt you hold against them is like a distorting lens… it will colour every thing you think or feel about them. In your eyes they cannot do anything right. It is a painful bondage to feel others owe us. Our emotional well-being is tied to their every move. Will you go into the new year saying truly ‘no-one owes me anything. Just as all my debts are cancelled at the cross, so I have cancelled every outstanding debt others owe me. I can look at all those who have hurt me or let me down over the years and say, ‘You owe me nothing.’ Wouldn’t it be a relief to be able to honestly say that, from the depths of your being? Actually, when you think about it – we owe people mercy, because we have been given mercy. We owe people forgiveness, because we have been forgiven so much. ‘Freely you have received… freely give.’ Jesus said. In Romans 13:11-14 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour. 8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfilment of the law. 11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light.” What is the ‘armour of Light’? It is being clothed in mercy, in compassion, in forgiveness, in love. It is the nature of our King, who rules his Kingdom in love and compassion. As you ponder these truths – will you receive for yourself the Lord’s assurance ‘You owe me nothing… Jesus has paid it all’. And will you choose to say of others, any you feel are in debt to you – ‘You owe me nothing – I cancel the debt as Jesus has cancelled mine. I set you free from my judgement.’ Jesus has paid for their debts also… The cross deals with everything that is sinful and ungodly…both in us and in others. Our part is to line up our heart and will up with the desire of our Saviour. To be in agreement with him. Take a moment now to ask the Spirit to show you those three things: Have I received what he has done for me? Do I know my debts are all cancelled because of Jesus? Have I forgiven myself for my failures and sins… just as he has? Is there anyone I hold in debt and feel ‘They owe me?’ Will you choose now to say “I cancel that debt in Jesus name. I set you free. You owe me nothing.”