A few weeks ago, my dad asked me to order him a new camouflage boonie hat. His old one had seen better days, and he wanted the real deal—a genuine, U.S.-made military boonie hat. I agreed, eventually found the right color and size, and had it shipped to him.
Yesterday, he received it and called to thank me. Then he asked a question: “What do I owe you?”
My mind immediately went to Jesus Christ and the free gift of salvation He offers to all who believe on Him and call upon His name. A gift isn’t a gift if repayment is expected. It’s given freely, out of love for the recipient.
I told Dad he owed me nothing. “Dad, it’s a gift, and I’m happy to provide it!”
Have you accepted Christ as your Savior? If so, have you ever asked Him, “Lord, what do I owe You?”
May I suggest an answer? You owe Him a thank-you every day for delivering you from eternal destruction through His precious shed blood. But more than that, you owe Him your heart. He desires a relationship with you—a genuine desire to know Him, walk with Him, and draw closer to Him every day. He has brought peace to troubled hearts and delivered us from the bondage of sin.
God’s gift of salvation cannot be purchased or repaid. Yet our gratitude should move us to serve Him with everything He has entrusted to us. Our service should never be an attempt to settle a debt or earn His favor. Instead, it should flow naturally from a heart overflowing with thanksgiving.
What do I owe God? Everything! But my service must begin with a sincere desire to know Him more intimately. When we understand the magnitude of His grace, serving Him becomes not a burden of repayment but a privilege of love.
Lord, thank You for the gift of salvation. Help me seek You daily and serve You faithfully—not to repay Your grace, but because I am so grateful to have received it. Amen.
