Daily devotion – A victim owed or a debtor owing!
A Debtor to Grace
“I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’”
—Romans 1:14-17
This passage can be life-changing if you take it to heart and believe it!
We live in a world consumed by a victim mentality, where many believe that life owes them something—whether it be happiness, success, or even salvation. But the truth is, the world owes us nothing. Instead, we owe the world our lives—our service, our love, and most importantly, the gospel of Jesus Christ.
From the beginning, God commanded humanity to “be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it.” (Genesis 1:28). We were created with purpose—to build, to create, to serve. We are not here to take from the world, but to give to it!
Paul understood this deeply. He saw himself as a debtor—not financially, but spiritually. He owed the world the message of salvation because he had received the immeasurable grace of God. He knew that withholding the gospel was not an option; it was his duty to share it.
Sadly, many churches today have lost this debtor mindset. Instead of seeing themselves as givers of God’s blessings, they often hold out their hands asking, “What can we receive?” When the church becomes more focused on money and comfort than on reaching lost souls, evangelism ceases to be a priority.
As a child, I often saw the church portrayed as needy—always seeking funds and support. But the true church of Jesus Christ should be a place of giving, where the rich blessings of God flow freely to the broken, the hurting, and the lost.
So, how do you see yourself?
Do you believe you are owed something?
Or do you recognize, as Paul did, that you are a debtor to a gracious and merciful God?
May we live as those who owe the world the gospel, sharing it boldly, unashamed, and with the full conviction that the power of God is at work through us!