No More Debt 不再欠债
Dexu Xia
He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal [debt]. Colossians 2:13-14
Today's Scripture Colossians 2:11-15
Today's Insights Physical death plays a central role in the story of our redemption from sin, as Paul highlights in Colossians. Why is death so key? The apostle wrote, “[God] has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith . . . and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel” (1:22-23). The apostle is combatting false teaching here—probably Gnosticism. Among its claims were that Christ didn’t have a physical body. This isn’t a biblical teaching, as it denies the crucifixion and resurrection. Paul warned, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy” (2:8). As he said, “You were dead in your sins” but now “God made you alive with Christ” (v. 13). When we accept Jesus’ sacrifice as payment for our sin, we become free from sin’s burden
Today's Devotional A doctor decided to retire after treating cancer patients for nearly thirty years. While working with a billing company to resolve his clinic’s finances, he opted to forgive $650,000 of debt people still owed him. “I’ve always been rather uncomfortable with sick patients not only having to worry about their own health,” the physician explained in a related interview, “[but also] their families, and their jobs, [and] money. That’s always tugged at me.”
Even if we’ve never been deep in financial debt, all of us have experienced something similar in a spiritual sense. The Bible likens sin to “debts” (Matthew 6:12). It also says there’s no way for us to repay what we owe God. We can’t donate money to charity, serve others, or work out a deal with Him to cover what we owe. Jesus is our only hope. Through His death and resurrection, Christ “canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14).
Accepting Jesus’ sacrifice for the wrong things we’ve done means waking up to a new day, completely free from the burden of sin. May God’s mercy and forgiveness shine into the world as He helps us lovingly address people and circumstances in our lives.
Reflect & Pray
Why do you think God cares whether or not you show mercy to others? How does your outlook on life reflect the freedom you have in Jesus?
Dear Jesus, thank You for paying the price for my sin.
By Jennifer Benson Schuldt
他赦免了我们一切的罪，涂抹了我们法律上的债务。歌罗西书 2:13-14
今日经文 歌罗西书 2:11-15
今日洞见 正如保罗在歌罗西书中强调的，在我们从罪中得救的故事中，基督肉体的死亡扮演着核心角色。为什么肉体的死亡如此关键？使徒写道：“他借着基督的肉身，藉着死亡，使你们与他和好，为要使你们在他面前成为圣洁，没有瑕疵，无可指责，只要你们持守信仰……不偏离福音所带给你们的盼望”（1:22-23）。使徒在这里驳斥的是异端教义，可能是诺斯底主义。这种教义声称基督没有肉身。这不是符合圣经的教导，因为它否认了十字架上的死和复活。保罗警告说：“你们要谨慎，免得有人用虚空的哲学和欺骗的言论把你们掳去”（2:8）。正如他所说，“你们从前死在罪中”，但现在“神使你们与基督一同活过来”（第13节）。当我们接受耶稣的牺牲作为我们罪的代价时，我们就摆脱了罪的重担。
今日灵修 一位医生在治疗癌症患者近三十年后决定退休。在与一家账单公司合作处理诊所财务时，他选择免除病人们仍然欠他的65万美元债务。这位医生在接受相关采访时解释说，“我一直对生病的病人不仅要担心自己的健康，还要担心他们的家人、工作和金钱感到很不舒服。这件事总是让我感到不安，所以我选择免除他们的债务。”
即使我们从未深陷财务债务，我们所有人在属灵意义上都经历过类似的事情。圣经将罪比作“债务”（马太福音 6:12）。它也说我们无法偿还我们欠神的债。我们所欠的,不可能用捐钱给慈善机构，服侍他人，或与上帝达成协议等方式来偿还。耶稣是我们唯一的希望。藉着祂的死和复活，基督“涂抹了加在我们身上的罪债，这罪债原本是控告我们、定我们罪的；祂把它除去，钉在了十字架上”（歌罗西书 2:14）。 接受耶稣为我们所犯的罪而献上的牺牲，意味着我们迎来了崭新的一天，彻底摆脱了罪的重担。愿神的怜悯和宽恕照耀世界，帮助我们以爱心对待生命中的人和事。
反思与祷告 你认为为什么神在意你是否怜悯他人？你的人生观如何体现你在耶稣里所拥有的自由？
亲爱的耶稣，感谢你为我的罪付出赎金。
作者：詹尼弗∙本森∙修尔特