Do I Need a New Debt Ceiling?

DO I NEED A DEBT CEILING INCREASE?

I know, I know…everybody is tired of talking about debt limits and spending cuts.  Everyone is sick of political posturing; hearing the same talking heads on every news program say the same thing: If those on the “other side of the aisle” would just see the light then the catastrophe could be avoided; I’m the only adult in the room when it comes to solving this problem; our children and our grandchildren will be paying for our recklessness; why don’t we tax the rich; don’t balance the budget on the backs of working families; it’s time to march on the White House and demand our own way!

The subtleties of increasing our national debt limit are beyond my area of expertise.  That does not mean I don’t have an opinion on the topic, but everybody has an opinion just like…well, you know.  What I am most concerned about is my own debt, not my fiscal responsibilities, but my spiritual debt.  Yes, I know, that the classic hymn tells me, “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe.  Sin had left a crimson stain; He washed it white as snow.”  But yet, I go on sinning; as does everyone else I know (even those who think that those who are truly saved no longer sin).  Do I need a debt limit increase on my sin?  It appears I need a new one every day.  For those of you who are brighter than I am, you have already jumped to Romans 5:20, “but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.”  Or perhaps if you are really smart you have made the leap to Bunyan or Romans 7 and Paul’s struggles.  Wherever you are in your understanding of God’s grace as it is bestowed upon we who continue to sin I urge you to remember the words of John Murray, who said of the believer, “sin remains, but it no longer reigns.”  We who have been saved are now slaves to righteousness (Romans 6); instead of being chained to our sin we can be chained to Christ (and therefore free).  I know that may not make sense that you can be a slave to Christ and yet free, but think of it this way: only when I am bound by the grace of Christ can I be free to live as He empowers me to live.  Do I still sin, unfortunately yes, but that sin does not rule my life.  Sin remains in our lives no matter how saintly we appear, but the nature of saving grace is that there is no limit to it.  Well, if there is no limit to God’s grace then should I go all “Rasputin” and sin boldly so God’s grace may be better demonstrated in my life?  I don’t think so; that would only go to show your heart has not been changed and you are still a prisoner in your sin.  Do not doubt that every believer struggles with sin every day.  How is your debt ceiling?