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Paid in Full: 5 Day Devotional



Here are a few additional resources to guide your quiet time this week:


Day 1: The Weight of Our Debt

Message: "Paid in Full" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.


"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 6:23

Devotional: Have you ever felt the crushing weight of debt? Whether financial, emotional, or spiritual, debt can feel overwhelming. The reality is, we all carry a spiritual debt that we could never repay on our own. Just like credit card debt that grows with interest, our spiritual debt - our sin - accumulates over time. We might try to ignore it or pretend it doesn't exist, but eventually, it demands payment. The good news is that we don't have to carry this burden alone. God, in His infinite wisdom and mercy, provided a solution that we could never achieve on our own.

Quote: "The wages of sin is death. Death is the earned consequence of sin. Every time we sin, we earn a debt with compounding interest" - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: "Where in your life have you felt the weight of guilt or shame building up like a debt you can't repay, and how does the truth of Jesus paying that debt bring peace to your heart?"


Prayer: Father, help me recognize the weight of my spiritual debt and my need for Your salvation. Give me the courage to face the reality of my sin and the humility to accept Your gift of grace. Amen.



Day 2: The Price of Freedom

Message: "Paid in Full" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.


"For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life." - Leviticus 17:11

Devotional: Freedom always comes at a price. In the spiritual realm, the price for our freedom was higher than we could ever imagine - it required the blood of Jesus Christ. This wasn't a simple debt cancellation or a divine 'looking the other way.' It was a complete payment, made with the most precious currency in existence. When we truly understand this cost, it changes how we view both our sin and our salvation.


Quote: "Jesus did not simply cancel our debt. He paid it with his blood." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: How does understanding the price paid for your freedom change the way you view your daily choices and actions?


Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for paying the ultimate price for my freedom. Help me live in a way that honors Your sacrifice. Amen.


Day 3: The Willing Sacrifice

Message: "Paid in Full" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.


"The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again." - John 10:17

Devotional: One of the most powerful aspects of Jesus' sacrifice is that it was completely voluntary. He wasn't a victim of circumstances or a helpless martyr. He was in complete control, choosing to lay down His life for us. This willing sacrifice demonstrates the depth of God's love for us. Jesus could have called down armies of angels to rescue Him, but He chose to stay on the cross because of His love for you and me.


Quote: "Technically and prophetically, the crucifixion did not kill Jesus. He gave his life willingly." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: "How does it impact you to know that Jesus willingly chose the cross for you, even when He had the power to walk away?"


Prayer: Jesus, thank You for choosing to sacrifice Yourself for me. Help me to live in response to Your incredible love. Amen.


Day 4: The Ultimate Ransom

Message: "Paid in Full" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.


"For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." - Mark 10:45

Devotional: We often hear the word “ransom” in the context of a price paid to rescue someone who’s been taken or trapped. That’s exactly what Jesus did for us. Our sin held us hostage—separating us from God, weighing us down with guilt, and leaving us without hope. But Jesus stepped in and paid the price we could never afford. He didn’t come demanding service or recognition. He came to serve and ultimately give His life as the payment to set us free. This wasn’t a reluctant sacrifice. It was a willing, purposeful act of love. Jesus knew the cost and chose to pay it so that we could live in freedom. That’s the heart of the gospel: a Savior who rescues, not by force, but by surrender.


Quote: "Theologically speaking, humanity is held captive by sin… and the only payment to release us is death.- Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: What does it mean to you personally that Jesus gave His life to pay your ransom?


Prayer: Jesus, thank You for paying the price I could never pay. Help me live in the freedom according to the love You demonstrated for me on the cross.


Day 5: From Wrath to Mercy

Message: "Paid in Full" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.


"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith." - Romans 3:23-25a

Devotional: God's justice and mercy meet at the cross, where Jesus becomes our "propitiation". This theological concept shows how God's righteous anger against sin is satisfied through Christ's sacrifice. Though all have sinned and fall short of God's glory , we are offered redemption—not because we earned it, but because Jesus bore the weight of our sin. At the cross, wrath and grace collide, and out of that collision, salvation flows freely to all who believe.


Quote: "You can't feel good about God's love until you understand His wrath. You can't really shout about your freedom until you understand that you were in bondage."- Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: How does understanding Jesus as your propitiation deepen your appreciation for both God's justice and His mercy?


Prayer

Lord, thank You for satisfying justice through the sacrifice of Jesus. Help me never take lightly the price He paid, and teach me to live in response to Your amazing grace. Amen.


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