“Does your car have a GPS system?” Stan asked me one morning.
“It does,” I responded, and added “it’s really helpful. Why do you ask?”
“The GPS voice on my car helped me to focus on a spiritual lesson yesterday,” Stan said.
“A spiritual lesson? You must be kidding,” I replied.
“Well, a little,” Stan said with a smile, “but there is an important point I want to make.”
“Let’s have it, Stan.”
“My wife and I were going to a store we had not visited before, and I was using the GPS to get us there.”
“At one point,” he continued, “I missed a turn and the GPS voice said, ‘Recalculating. Make a U-turn if possible.’”
“Yeah,” I responded, “mine does the same thing when I make a mistake.”
“The Holy Spirit,” Stan responded, “says the same thing to me, but there is a real important difference.”
“You’re going to have to help me here, Stan,” I said.
“When I am going in the wrong direction, the Holy Spirit says I am to make a U-turn, but He does not add, ‘if possible.’”
“No,” Stan continued. “the Holy Spirit says to make a U-turn and adds no qualification to it. He says ‘turn around and go in a different direction.’”
“Isn’t that what repentance is all about?” I asked.
“Yes, my friend. That’s what it is all about,” Stan said, and then added, “there are to be no ifs , ands, or buts. It is when I seek to add some qualification to my repentance that I am continuing to go in the wrong direction.”
“Make a U-turn and make it quickly,” I added.
“Amen to that,” Stan replied.
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And after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel. Mark 1:14, 15.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that you lead me in repentance. You know and I know how often I want to add qualification to my repentance by wanting to minimize the changes you want in my life. Please, Lord, forgive me all of that half-hearted repentance. And, Lord, please help me in being truthful and honest in my repentance, leading me to where you want me to be in my relationship with you. Please lead and help me to follow. Thank you I can and do bring all of these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
