LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD (WEEK 5) - THE YEAR OF THE LORD’S FAVOR

Debt is nothing new, is it? Most of us, if not all of us, have had to deal with (or ARE dealing with) debt to some degree…

Our nation in particular and much of the global community in general are in the midst of dealing with the effects of crippling debt, both corporate and government.

There are many reasons for debt: unforeseen circumstances like emergency surgeries or loss of a job, out-of-control spending (often on things to satisfy our desire for immediate gratification) and over-use of credit, sky-rocketing inflation of prices…

Now there ARE laws in our nation that give a BIT of protection to debtors unable to meet their obligations. And yet even these bankruptcy laws carry some pretty severe consequences for those who choose to resort to them. The record of bankruptcy stays on your credit report for years making it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to re-establish credit. AND unfortunately, these laws have been known to be abused by people who manipulate the system, taking advantage of those who had extended credit privileges to them.

Now - imagine this scenario… What if we announced that, on Resurrection Sunday - April 17, the debts of every member of PBCC would be paid off by an anonymous donor?

That would be kind of exciting, yes? I don’t think ANYONE would be so manipulative to go out and run up all the debt they possibly could before April 17, would they? :-)  Would our membership class coming up on March 27 be filled with not only attenders of PBCC, but tons of other people who live in our area who had also heard of the incredible offer?

Now why am I talking about debt this morning? Well, today’s passage in Luke 4 is rooted in that very idea of the mass forgiveness of debt for God’s people.