GRACIOUS GOD
Read Matthew 18:21-35
“Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but I tell you, seventy-seven times.” Mathew 18:21-22
On August 9, 2019, I was surprised when I read a piece of business news written by Ryan Miller and published in USA Today, a daily American newspaper. Chase Bank, a part of the New York-based JPMorgan Chase & Co., forgave all credit card debt for Canadian customers. According to Maria Martinez, vice president of communications for Chase Card Services, “Chase made the decision to exit the Canadian credit card market. As part of that exit, all credit card accounts were closed on or before March 2018. A further business decision has been made to forgive all outstanding balances in order to complete the exit.”
Can you imagine, after having so much credit card debt now debt-free?
I remember that in 1998, I worked as an Operations Analyst at Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, the 5th largest commercial bank in the Philippines. As an officer of the bank, I had a high-paying job, but I had also so much debt and different kinds of loans. However, with all the debts and loans that I had, I needed to resign to study at Union Theological Seminary as a full-time student. By the grace of God, in 2001, before the day of our graduation. God provided me to pay all my remaining debts and loans including all the seminary tuition fees.
The promise of our Gracious God is true, “Repent, therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord and that he may send the Messiah appointed for you, that is, Jesus.” Acts 3:19-20.
Prayer: “Lord, I praise you for your faithfulness. Thank you for the abundance you have granted, for the undeserved favor of being blessed in so many ways. All glory be unto you. In your precious name, Lord Jesus. Amen.”
Enrico R. Esguerra MBA., M.Div., M.Ed., D.Min.
(St Mark UMC & Bradley Wesley UMC)
PRAYER FOCUS: People experiencing financial problems and crises.
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