The first time I ever used a credit card was at a Marathon Gas Station. I was 23 years old and immediately sped my way home so that I could pay off the purchase. Thanks to Dave Ramsey, I was absolutely terrified that my most recent transaction would be the death of me.
Thankfully, that wasn't the case.
As soon as I got home, I whipped out my laptop, pulled up my 'Discover' account, and stared at a blank screen. "Why hadn't the transaction gone through yet?" I nervously thought to myself. "Was this going to be the start of bankruptcy for me?"
I refused to use the card again until the gas had been paid off fully and then was hesitant to use the card at any Gas Station for fear that I would forget about a pending purchase and lose my house.
The Devil Can't Afford You
Contrary to what I grew up believing, credit cards aren't inherently bad. In fact, they can be a wonderful asset filled with bonus rewards if used properly. The #1 rule for credit card owners is that you should never spend money on something with a credit card that you can't afford.
Don't accrue debt on something you can't afford.
In our walk with God, we are constantly being tempted by the enemy. A being who is always on the prowl to literally devour us (see 1 Peter 5:8).
He is still breathing to ensure that we waste our breath. His number one goal is to drive you as far away from God as possible. There's only one problem...
The devil can't afford you.
You are too precious, too gifted, too valuable to fit on the devil's credit card. So while the devil can tempt you, taunt you, and ultimately distract you from the incredible things that God is doing, he can't:
Steal your joy
Rob you of your peace
Separate you from God's love
Those are fruit of the Spirit. Consider the devil's card declined.
How Would You Like To Pay For This?
You were bought with a price. A price that the enemy can't afford and isn't willing to pay. A price that declares that you were worth dying for. And while we may suffer during our time on earth, we know who wins. Paul writes this to the church in Rome, "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you (Romans 16:20)."
And what's the most beautiful thing about all of this? The price has already been paid in full. Jesus declared victory on the cross so that we wouldn't have to pay off our debts. All we need to do now is accept his gift freely.
I love this quote from one of my favorite pastors and authors, Levi Lusko:
"[God] has the devil’s credit card number and he’ll make the devil pay, and we’ll get stronger, the Kingdom of God will expand if we lean into what Jesus wants to do and don’t hastily conclude that God has dropped the ball." - Through the Eyes of a Lion by Levi Lusko
The devil can only sabotage our walk with God when we allow him to. Don't let him purchase your life with his credit card. He doesn't plan on paying it back.
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