I worked as a housekeeper within a Memory Care Unit for several years. Part of my job included doing their laundry. Often as I ran around with my laundry cart, gathering and delivering their laundry, I would playfully goof off with my residents. I had one resident in particular in a wheelchair, which I would come alongside with my cart and say, “On your mark - get set - go.” She would run in place with her feet up in the air from her chair, and I would run in place with my cart. We would both laugh.


One day as I approached her with her back to me, I had one of my not so smart ideas. But who said I was smart. I snuck up behind her, tapped her abruptly on her arm and said “Boo”. She jumped and abruptly put me into a head lock, holding on for dear life. I chuckled, and she hung on til I finally said “UNCLE”. She then giggled, letting me go saying, “You better be glad that I remember what that means.”


Isn’t it funny how somethings in life can just stick with us. Some good, some bad. Many of them being defining moments in our life. Unfortunately some of the most defining moments tend to be the hurts or scars of our life which make us bitter or even fearful. And sometimes those hurts lead us on paths far away from God because we feel filthy, unworthy or unclean. 


No matter what sins we may have committed against God or humanity, I am reminded that no sin is so great that God will not forgive. Saul encountered the spirit of Jesus asking Saul, ‘Why are you persecuting me?” Can you imagine as great a sinner as Saul, killing God’s followers, being pursued by Christ to pick up his cross and follow Jesus? And then turning your life around so tremendously that you have contributed to the writing of 13 books in the bible.


So my question to you is, “Have you blasphemed God’s Name or have you killed his children?” Saul was forgiven when he asked for forgiveness and fully repented from these sins. It is our response in life when we feel God’s prompt to repent which determines our destiny. God was able forgive Saul, giving him a new identity as Paul, and even more using him in large ways to glorify his name. 


VERSES:

  • 1 Timothy 1:15: "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst."

  • Matthew 4:17: "From that time on Jesus began to preach, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near'". 

  • Matthew 3:2: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand". 

  • 2 Corinthians 7:10: "For godly sorrow produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but worldly grief produces death." 

  • Ephesians 4:32 "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

  • Colossians 3:13 "bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also do."



We must remember that true repentance means we are turning our back on our sins, committing them no more. Maybe it is time to say, “UNCLE”, giving God our sins of the past and giving him our heart.