PERCENTAGES AND BUT WAIT

"25% off for one day only," the email said. There was some fine print about not good on sale items, stamps, alcohol and prescriptions.

"This is the best skillet ever," the really loud man said on the infomercial. "It is only $9.98 plus shipping, BUT WAIT, for the next 24 hours we will send you two." The fine print was that you pay shipping and handling for the second skillet and the shipping and handling turns out to be more than the skillet.

"Come in on Columbus Day Weekend and get two suits for the price of one," the commercial offered. "This is a BOGO sale." The problem is that last weekend they were offering buy one and get two.

"Give a gift subscription for $5," the magazine letter offers. "And renew yours for $19.98."

Such good deals how do we pass them up? We are bombarded by coupons that entice us to buy products we do not need. We receive two skillets and neither one keeps the cheese from sticking to the skillet. Buy one suit and get two free? They must change the price tags every time they have a sale. And really? Maybe I should gift a magazine to myself!

25% off! But Wait! BOGO! Gift subscription! When do I know I am getting the best deal?

SCRIPTURES

(Jesus speaking) "If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever -- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." John 14:15-17

(Jesus speaking) "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes he will guide you into all truth." John 16:13

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22

AND NOW

I know I am getting the best when I accept the deals God has for me.

Have you accepted the extravagant deals God has for you? Love? Joy? Peace? Patience? Kindness? Goodness? Faithfulness? Gentleness? Self-control? Or do you want them all? Go ahead and be greedy. But don't stop there! Tell God, "I want it all! On top of these I want forgiveness, eternal life, salvation and Your grace."

LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)

Such offers Lord and Your deals do not expire. They do not come with a condition to buy one and get one free. Lord, I want them all! I want to know Your love and be joyful. I want to accept Your peace and be patient. I want to share Your kindness, goodness and faithfulness with others. I want to use Your gentleness to give me self-control. I want the salvation and forgiveness bought by Your Son and I want eternal life received through Your grace. Lord, I want it all and I want it now. Thank you and Amen