These criminal actions took place up to 4 years ago, but they were found out.
The Old Testament reminds us that 'Be sure, your sin will find you out'! (Numbers 32.23)
Being 'Caught Out!' may be our worst nightmare, but we can learn from the mistakes of others, if we are ready to be changed.
The parable the Jesus told, about the Sower and the Soils, has an important warning for all of us.
'The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.' (Mark 4.18-19)
In the run up to Christmas, we are bombarded on every side with the commercial pressures to buy, consume, lured by the attractiveness of possessing more stuff, and what Jesus describes as the desire for other things.
In the parable itself, Jesus described the effects of the jungle of thorns and weeds on the vulnerable growth of the precious seed. 'Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain.' (Mark 4.7)
Unless we take deliberate avoiding action, today and every day, to weed out the longing for more and more material things, we shall find ourselves 'Caught Out!' by our own greed and worries.
HSBC have had to pay a large fine.
We will pay a much higher price, in that our spiritual lives will be fruitless.
Jesus warned his followers of the dangers of being taken up with the trivia of the worldly obsessions. 'And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?' (Mark 8.36-37)
Instead of living a life which brings glory to God and blessing to those around us, and wasting the one life we have, Jesus warns us to make sure we are not 'Caught Out!'
Today may be a time for decisive and relentless action to pull up some weeds and thorns!
Best wishes,
Best wishes,
Richard
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