6 Words That Will Change Your LifeSample

On more than one occasion, I’ve found myself driving down the road with a heavy foot, trying to get somewhere on time, only to notice a police car positioned just right. 

Yes, I’m a preacher who likes to drive with intentionality and “godspeed.” 

But one day, after getting a speeding ticket, something weird happened. I got a copy of my ticket sent back to me in the mail with a cancellation note on it and a smiley face. 

Somebody at ticket-giving headquarters paid the bill and cancelled the ticket. To this day, I have no idea who. All I know is that it reminds me of Colossians 2:13-14.  

God has “canceled the charge” of our sin debt, and we know full well who paid our penalty—Jesus! He wrote a check with His life when He died on the cross and paid for all our misdeeds and mess-ups—past, present and future. 

In Jesus’ final moments on the cross, He made a bold declaration when He uttered a single word: “Tetelastai” (Luke 19:30). Most Bibles translate this single word into the phrase, “It is finished.” But in the original language, it has deeper, richer meaning. It can also be translated as “Paid in full.”  

In New Testament times, the word tetelestai was written on business documents to indicate that a bill had been “paid in full.” And that’s exactly what Jesus did on the cross for us—He set us free from the penalty we were under because of our sin. Ephesians 1:7-8 puts it like this: Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly  free! (The Message).  

We’re declared not just barely free, but totally free! “Abundantly  free!”  

Are you living like you are “abundantly free”? Does God’s grace shine through your perceptions and actions?  

Think about how you’d feel if you were under a crushing debt burden—say you owed someone a million dollars. Then imagine how you’d react if you found out that your massive debt had been totally cancelled and forgiven. You’d be pretty excited, right?  

Jesus’ forgiveness is worth infinitely more than $1,000,000!  

So go live your life today in light of the awesome reality that your sin debt has been “paid in full”! Be joyful, be generous, be exuberant as you walk through your day. Let your unbounded joy flow out of the depth of your soul! 

As forgiven followers of Jesus, we should be the most joy-filled people on the planet! As you read the following Bible verses, pause and talk to God about each.