October 5

Opportunity Knocks - Debts Cancelled

The Postman delivers you a letter. “Don’t miss this great opportunity,” in large letters appears at the top of the envelope. Some financial organisation, seeking seemingly to help you, offers what appears to be a deal to benefit you. They will provide a loan to pay off all your debts at a very low interest rate. However, if you read the fine print you will find it is not as good as it is made out to be. For hidden away in the small print is information that indicates the initial period of the load is only for a short period of time, after which you will be required to pay a much higher interest rate. It is a gimmick. Don’t sign, you will regret it.

God uses no gimmicks. Yes there are parables in scripture, short stories, the purpose of which is to underline one truth; in the case of the Prodigal Son, the truth is that God will forgive the penitent. The Psalmist testifies to this, stating “I acknowledge my sins to you… you forgave the guilt of my sin” (Psalm 32, verse 5). Jesus, in what is known as “The Lord’s Prayer”, encourages us to pray, “forgive us our sins,” (Matthew 6, verse 12), and John the disciple of Jesus wrote, “If we confess our sin, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sin” (1 John 1, verse 9). Here there is no fine print in which a catch phrase is hidden away. What an opportunity, cancellation of your debts, this is, your sin and guilt.

I encourage you to seek by confession, repentance, and faith in Jesus our Saviour, the forgiveness God offers. There is no gimmick, but a wonderful opportunity. Make it a fact.

By Rev. John Weatherill, Retired minister of the Church of the Nazarene, Dewsbury.

For and on behalf of the Churches Together in Dewsbury.

Churches		Together	in	Dewsbury

October 5	Opportunity Knocks - Debts Cancelled The Postman delivers you a letter. “Don’t miss this great opportunity,” in large letters appears at the top of the envelope. Some financial organisation, seeking seemingly to help you, offers what appears to be a deal to benefit you. They will provide a loan to pay off all your debts at a very low interest rate. However, if you read the fine print you will find it is not as good as it is made out to be. For hidden away in the small print is information that indicates the initial period of the load is only for a short period of time, after which you will be required to pay a much higher interest rate. It is a gimmick. Don’t sign, you will regret it. God uses no gimmicks. Yes there are parables in scripture, short stories, the purpose of which is to underline one truth; in the case of the Prodigal Son, the truth is that God will forgive the penitent. The Psalmist testifies to this, stating “I acknowledge my sins to you… you forgave the guilt of my sin” (Psalm 32, verse 5). Jesus, in what is known as “The Lord’s Prayer”, encourages us to pray, “forgive us our sins,” (Matthew 6, verse 12), and John the disciple of Jesus wrote, “If we confess our sin, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sin” (1 John 1, verse 9). Here there is no fine print in which a catch phrase is hidden away. What an opportunity, cancellation of your debts, this is, your sin and guilt. I encourage you to seek by confession, repentance, and faith in Jesus our Saviour, the forgiveness God offers. There is no gimmick, but a wonderful opportunity. Make it a fact. By Rev. John Weatherill, Retired minister of the Church of the Nazarene, Dewsbury. For and on behalf of the Churches Together in Dewsbury.