BREAKING OUT OF BONDAGE

 Owe no one anything except to love one another.  Romans 13:8  

Many read this verse and focus on the word “owe.”  To owe is to be in debt, and debt is a form of bondage: “the borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7).  

Let’s take this a step further, though: “owe no one anything;” this implies that Paul was talking about more than just debt.  I am not to be in bondage in what I say, feel or do.  Let’s examine:  

Bondage in what I say:  anything I am not able to confess in truth to another person creates a roadblock to how I will treat them.  If I am hiding secrets from them, I will not be able to love them unconditionally.  I will have a fear of speaking truth because the truth will hurt.  

Bondage in what I feel:  anything I’m feeling toward another person that I am not able to express emotionally.  If I’m hiding my true feelings, I’m lying to them and I’m lying to myself, again blocking myself from giving love and possibly not really able to fully receive their love.  I will have a fear of displaying truth because the truth will hurt.  

Bondage in what I do:  anything I won’t do because I’m afraid of what others will think of me.  If I’m hiding my true actions, I am not being loyal to Christ if the actions I fear are from Him—in truth, I’m disobeying Christ.  I will have a fear of doing things that are truthful because the truth will hurt.  

THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS 

The fact of the matter is that truth hurts!  It has a cleansing effect on our bodies, and I don’t like to be cleansed!  The scouring pad rubbing up against my heart is abrasive and causes pain; however, this lets all the germs and “bad stuff” out and allows Jesus to replace it with His love.  Once I have His love in my heart, I won’t care about what I say, feel or do as long as it’s from Him.  My words, feelings and actions will breathe truth into others, also leading them through the cleansing process.  Truth does hurt, but it cleanses me so well that I will be encouraged by how my words, feelings and actions have changed because of it.  

The last part of the verse says that I will owe no one anything except to love one another.  Once Jesus has cleansed me from the bondage I carry around, Jesus’ love is able to shine right through me—I can’t help but love!    Am I ready to take the next step?   

Lord, I confess my sins before You, and ask You to have me tell you truthfully how my words, feelings and actions have hurt others.  I ask for forgiveness and ask You to help me grow in love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.