Romans 1:14Romans 1:14
English: World English Bible - WEB
14 I am debtor both to Greeks and to foreigners, both to the wise and to the foolish.

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Paul starts this letter with a disclaimer that he’s in debt to all the citizens of Rome.  That’s no small confession.  In that day there was possibly a million people living in the city of Rome.  You would think that Paul would at least try to subdue his claim of guilt.

Let me describe two different kinds of debt.

First, there is the debt such as the one that involves your bank.  You borrow a sum of money from the bank.  In return you are obligated to fulfill the requirements of that contract.

Paul’s debt is the one in which someone gives you a sum of money to give to someone else. You are obligated to both the giver and the intended recipient.

The top headline-grabbing financial scandal in 2009 was Bernard Madoff’s breathtaking $65 billion Ponzi scheme.  He was entrusted with money to invest for others. Rather, he enjoyed the financial blessings for himself alone.

Paul was the recipient of the gospel of Jesus Christ and God’s grace that transformed his life.  For that alone, Paul says that he is forever indebted to Christ.  But it did not end there.  This message of the gospel was not for Paul’s enjoyment alone.  When God extended grace to Paul the intention was to invest it in others; deliver this message of the gospel to all in Rome.

Paul was compelled by an obligation to both God and those in Rome.  That obligation was the driving force in his life.

Too many Christians today have a spiritual Madoff syndrome. Enjoy the blessings of God as if it were ours to enjoy and nothing more.  No obligations attached.

Here’s my point: The gospel is not for our to enjoy, lift our hands in praise on the weekend and nothing more.  We have a heavenly debt to tell the ones we know about the gospel. We are stewards of the gospel and all its blessings.

Here’s the challenge: Try saying these words today: “I have a debt from heaven to tell ____________ (insert a friend’s name) about the gospel of Jesus Christ.”   Praising God for what we have received from him; that is only half of the bargain.

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It came to me while watching TV.  Don’t tell me you can’t watch TV and think at the same time. 

A teenager was being featured on the Today Show.  Her bit was about redefining the American Dream; the big house, loving family, climbing the corporate ladder or anything that you can add to the list.   This teen had become morally sick about the state of poverty in the world and so found it necessary to “redefine, with her family, the American Dream in such a way that they could do something significant to address their soul ache.

It got me thinking about the Christian Life Dream.  First, how would you define this dream? To start, here are a few criteria in defining your list:

1. It must be something tangible. You can’t simply say, “to love God.” Your definition must be something that other people can watch.
2. You cannot divide the Christian-Life Dream and your [country of your choosing] dream. They must intrinsically impact one another.
3. You cannot divide your occupation from your Christian-Life Dream. 
4. You cannot divide your wealth or lack of it from your Christian-Life Dream.
5. It must be something that you’re actually willing to do.

Well, that’s a good start for now.  Actually, many Christians will say, “this is where I get off”. 

“Hope for everyday life” is in living your Christian-Life Dream.  Think on it.  I plan to continue on this thought in the near future.

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It came to me while watching TV.  Don’t tell me you can’t watch TV and think at the same time.

A teenager was being featured on the Today Show.  Her bit was about redefining the American Dream; the big house, loving family, climbing the corporate ladder or anything that you can add to the list.   This teen had become morally sick about the state of poverty in the world and so found it necessary to “redefine, with her family, the American Dream in such a way that they could do something significant to address their soul ache.

It got me thinking about the Christian Life Dream.  First, how would you define this dream? To start, here are a few criteria in defining your list:

1. It must be something tangible. You can’t simply say, “to love God.” Your definition must be something that other people can watch.
2. You cannot divide the Christian-Life Dream and your [country of your choosing] dream. They must intrinsically impact one another.
3. You cannot divide your occupation from your Christian-Life Dream.
4. You cannot divide your wealth or lack of it from your Christian-Life Dream.
5. It must be something that you’re actually willing to do.

Well, that’s a good start for now.  Actually, many Christians will say, “this is where I get off”.

“Hope for everyday life” is in living your Christian-Life Dream.  Think on it.  I plan to continue on this thought in the near future.

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Unlike