In preparation for Sunday's service on January 25th - please consider the words in Deuteronomy 15:1-11. The book of Deuteronomy is, at its heart, a number of sermons Moses gave to the Israelites to remind them of where they had been and what they were heading to - the promised land. A recurring theme in these discourses is that the people were not to forget God's commands and to be obedient to him.
Deuteronomy 15:1-11 NIV
The Year for Canceling Debts
15 At the end of every seven years you must
cancel debts. 2 This is how it is to be done: Every
creditor shall cancel any loan they have made to a
fellow Israelite. They shall not require payment
from anyone among their own people, because
the Lord’s time for canceling debts has been
proclaimed. 3 You may require payment from a
foreigner, but you must cancel any debt your
fellow Israelite owes you. 4 However, there need be
no poor people among you, for in the land
the Lord your God is giving you to possess as
your inheritance, he will richly bless you, 5 if only
you fully obey the Lord your God and are careful to
follow all these commands I am giving you
today. 6 For the Lord your God will bless you as he
has promised, and you will lend to many nations
but will borrow from none. You will rule over many
nations but none will rule over you. 7 If anyone is
poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the
towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you,
do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward
them. 8 Rather, be openhanded and freely lend
them whatever they need. 9 Be careful not to
harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the
year for canceling debts, is near,” so that you do
not show ill will toward the needy among your
fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may
then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will
be found guilty of sin. 10 Give generously to them
and do so without a grudging heart; then because
of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your
work and in everything you put your hand
to. 11 There will always be poor people in the land.
Therefore I command you to be openhanded
toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and
needy in your land.
Join us for coffee hour before service at 10:30 am - all are welcome - with service beginning at 11:00 am. See you on Sunday.
