«For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died» (2 Corinthians 5: 14).
A LOVE THAT FREES AND CAPTIVATES AT THE SAME TIME? What does that mean? Well, there’s nothing better than a real-life story to illustrate it.
Ty Gibson recounts that once, as he was traveling with his wife Sue, Will their teenaged son decided to use the family’s new car without permission. Will had no driver’s license, and the car insurance did not include collision coverage. Will had apparently received a call from a friend to «save» a dog that had been attacked by a porcupine, and unfortunately he crashed into a tree. The car was a total loss. And their insurance did not cover this type of mishap.
Now Gibson and Sue had to decide how to handle the situation. Their first reaction was to have Will pay for the damages, but then they experienced what they called «the love dilemma»: Should they absorb the damages and «release» the captive or demand payment? They decided to take the path of forgiveness.
When they got home, Will confessed his guilt and promised to pay off the debt, even if he had to drop out of school. That’s when Gibson interrupted him. «Will, your debt is bigger than you, but no bigger than us. Your mother and I are happy to tell you that you owe us absolutely nothing. » «No way!» Will replied, «You can’t do that!»
«Of course, we can, and we have already done it,» replied Gibson.
With tears in his eyes, the teenager accepted their forgiveness, and thus, he was freed from his enormous debt. But then something interesting happened: «Before he knew he had been forgiven,» Gibson wrote, «it was his sense of guilt that prompted Will to want to pay a priceless debt, but now that forgiveness had freed him from all obligation, his gratitude prompted him to restore the damage he had caused us.» That’s how, out of gratitude, Will managed to get a job during the summer that allowed him to buy a car for his parents.
Is this anything like what God has done for you and me? Through our sins, we acquired a debt that was greater than us, but no greater than God’s love for us. That; why, instead of meting out the punishment we deserved, God gave His Son and granted us the forgiveness we did not deserve. Now that we understand the magnitude of that sacrifice, His love has taken hold of our hearts in such a way that we no longer obey Him out of obligation, but out of love for the One who loved us first.
Thank You, dear Jesus, because Your love is greater than my debt of sin. Now that I am guilt-free,
I want to give You my life and serve You with all my heart.
It’s the least I can do!
#AdultsDevotional
#RadioJovenAdventista
#MeditacionesDiarias
Taken from: Devotional Readings for Adults 2022
“GREAT IS OUR GOD!”
From: FERNANDO ZABALA
Colaboradores: Xiomara Perdomo & Angelica Cuate
