Devotion #4: Owing the Gospel

“I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.” Romans 1:14-15   

I am going to let my “geek” out for a minute as we begin today. This is probably one of the most maligned characters in the “Star Wars” movies, but I kind of liked Jar Jar Binks. He talks weirdly, has long ears, and is really lanky, but he sure tries hard! During the course of the storyline, Jar Jar’s life is saved by Qui-Gon Jinn, and he has to enter into what is called a “life debt.” He is now tied to Qui-Gon and will serve him until that debt has been paid. “Jar-Jar owe ya da life debt…” Okay, I am done with geek time. 

We hear stories like this in movies and even in real life. Someone’s life is saved and that person feels like they owe something to the one that acted. Sometimes this is cultural and required, other times it is simply an indebtedness of gratitude. 

For those who have come to the cross of Christ and found Jesus to be the Savior of their souls, salvation has come to them. Their life, their real life, has been saved. This Good News, this Gospel, is free to all that will come, believe in their heart that Jesus is Lord, and confess with their mouth that God raised Him from the dead.  

Paul writes to the Romans at the beginning of his letter to set the tone for the rest of what he is about to write. This entire letter establishes just what Jesus did for all of humanity on the cross. He will soon talk about what we have been saved from, what we have been saved to, and just how Jesus did it.  

However, he says something interesting at the beginning of this letter. He says he is “under obligation” to pretty much everyone. What is he “under obligation” to do? It is to “preach the gospel.” 

He has been saved from his sin. He has been transformed from a man that murdered people of the Way (Jesus-followers) to a man that met Jesus on the road to Damascus, becoming a Jesus-follower himself. When he met Jesus, he was forced to look at his sin, realize that it was killing him, and fall on his face in surrender to his Savior.  

He knew what he was saved from. He had to tell others what they were saved from and what they were saved to. He owed the “life-debt” to Jesus and so he had to testify. 

Has Jesus saved you? Do you remember what He has saved you from? Do you know what He has saved you to? If so, it is time to tell others. They are drowning, and they do not even know it. We have been given salvation to change our eternal destiny and to be ambassadors for Jesus.  

Carry the name of Jesus and His salvation everywhere you go. You owe your life, your everything, to Him.