October 17, 2011
My Ancestor’s Debt
My caller ID flashes 614-791-4535—NCO FINANCIAL at least twice a day and sometimes more. You may have received a call from this same agency. They are high pressure debt collectors—but we don’t have any outstanding debts. Plus, the person they ask for doesn’t live here and we don’t even know the individual. Donna tried a couple of times to tell the creeps they had the wrong number but they persist with their endless calls. So, now we just ignore them.
As I thought about this, I realized that Satan also has a debt collection agency—it doesn’t matter that you don’t owe anything. He’ll accuse you of owing something. The NCO collectors persist because they know some unknowing individual will send the money. The devil continually torments Christians who haven’t realized the freedom they have through Christ. Because of their ignorance of Scripture, Satan knows he can rob them of God’s peace and joy.
Every time I’ve taught Exodus or Deuteronomy I’ve heard a recurring sad story that illustrates this point. “My grandfather went to prison for shooting and murdering his brother. Not only was my dad an atheist, he was an alcoholic and physically abused my mother until the day he died. I know I’m doomed to a miserable life because I’m paying the debt of their sins.” When I hear this, I always know the scripture the person is about to quote. And they begin, For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me (Ex. 20:5).
I enjoy responding to this inaccurate perception because I know I’ll see their face light up with joy. “Didn’t you know you have a new Father?” I ask. “You have been adopted.” Then I explain the Roman laws of adoption.”
Adoption was common among the Romans. Paul uses the term three times in the Book of Romans. Adoption was a legal action by which a couple took a person not their own, entitling the adoptee to all rights and privileges of a natural-born child. This is similar to American adoption however any parallel ends there. The interesting element of Roman adoption was in reference to the person’s past. All of his old debts and obligations connected with the old family were abolished as if they never existed. If an older youth who maybe had committed murder or owed millions of dollar of debt that his parents had incurred, could not be held accountable. He was considered a new person. The person that had murdered or owed great amounts of money, no longer existed. According to Roman law, the old life was completely wiped out. All debts were cancelled, and he was absolutely the son of his new father.
Paul chose this powerful word to tell us about our new relationship with the LORD. But you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father! (Rom. 8:15). Put this truth into perspective in your life. It doesn’t matter what your dad, your granddad, your mother, your uncle or a cousin three times removed has done. When you received Christ as your LORD, you became a new person—with a new Father. You have been adopted. All debts and obligations of your old life have been cancelled and don’t even exist anymore. So, the next time NCO-SATAN debt collection agency calls, answer it just one time and tell them they have the wrong number and hang up. Then just ignore his calls.
Sustaining Word for the Week:
You owe nothing. The Father has adopted you; because Jesus has paid the debt. Enjoy your new Father this week. I pray some of your faces are lighting up with joy