God Not Only Forgives, He Forgets

"So you think that of all the billions of people that have ever lived, you're the only one He's never forgiven and didn't die on the cross for?"

Below is a snippet of a conversation with Skip O’Kelly, a 72-year-old man who has been journeying with the Lord his whole life. Skip shares what he’s learned about God’s unconditional love and forgiveness, the importance of tithing and praying, the significance of community and accountability, and the joy of serving God wholeheartedly. If you prefer listening, you can listen to the full conversation on Apple, Spotify, or watch on YouTube.

What have you learned about God that you wish you’d known when you were younger?

He's incredible. I mean, I know we all know that, or we think that, but He truly is incredible. I mean, how much He loves us unconditionally. One of my favorite verses, Hebrews 8:12, talks about forgiveness. It says, “For I will forgive their wickedness, and I will remember their sins no more.”

And so I think it's His grace and the love He has for us. And when my kids were little, Kristen and Sean, I used to say to them, I’d put my hands up like this to my face and hide the one side. And I'd say, “He doesn't see it anymore. Once you're sorry and you tell Him you're sorry, He doesn't remember.”

And I think that's the struggle we all have, of like, I remember 10 years ago I did this, or two months ago I did this and I wish I hadn't…but He forgives. But the great thing is we serve a God who actually forgets.

And I remember my son saying to me one time, because he was really struggling with some things, and he said, “Dad, you know, God will never forgive me for this.” And I'm like, “So you think that of all the billions of people that have ever lived, you're the only one He's never forgiven and didn't die on the cross for? Just you, everybody else He died for? Plus I've lived twice as long as you have, so I've committed twice as many sins.”

And I wanted him to realize that we serve a God who does forgive and forgets and loves us so much. He sent Christ to the cross. I mean, wow, when you think about would you do that, would you want to send one of your kids to the cross? I mean, wow, that's pretty powerful.

In what area(s) of your life has the Lord been most victorious? Where have you most seen His goodness and faithfulness?

It's probably something we don't normally think of when you say that. And for me, it's been tithing. I just feel like the Bible mentions so many times about money, and Jesus talked about money. And I think tithing is when He knows he really has your heart. Because it's like, OK, we love Him, but it's so difficult sometimes to part with our finances.

And I tell people this that talk to me about it. It's like, there's a feeling of freedom when you know you're on the same page with the Lord as far as your finances. And I think like for me, now I'm retired, I get different checks. But when I know when they hit, it's the first thing I do above everything. I don't transfer money to savings or pay a bill or do whatever. It's the first thing I do is tithe. And I feel like by doing that, I just feel like I'm being so faithful. Doesn't make me better than anybody else. It's just me and the Lord on that one. And it's just an incredible feeling of freedom when you do that and it just means a lot.

And one of the verses I'll share with you is in Malachi 3:10-11, it says: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house and test me in this.” And here's the only place I think in the Bible where the Lord says, “test me.”

And then it says “and see if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.” So I mean, it's the only time I know of, and I'm sure maybe some of your listeners would know better than me, but that the Lord actually says test me with your finances and He’ll pour out a blessing.

It doesn't mean you're not going to have difficulties…but it just means that He will remain faithful if you remain faithful. And I think He expects that of us. And that's where I think for me tithing has just been such a wonderful thing.

I know sometimes it can be a little scary. But…I remember when I was a kid, one of our pastors put up a diagram of a pie. And then he took 10% and he put a sliver for that. And he goes, how much of this do you want to give God? Is this enough? Is it not enough? Do you want to give Him less? And he would make it less and less and less till you're finally back to 100%, just to kind of make you think like, okay, 10% really is not that much.

Now, it can be a lot at different times. So I also say to people, you know, if you're a college student, of course you don't have any money. If you're going through really difficult financial times, of course, those are times when you may not be able to tithe. But, I just think each person has to really sit down and think and pray about it because it's what He wants from us.

What’s the most important lesson the Lord has taught you over the years?

I think to remain faithful. Because there's nobody, especially anybody my age, who hasn't been through difficult times, whether financial, health, or a variety of things. And I think when you're going through the worst, it's like, OK, what are you going to do? For me, I ask myself, what do you want to do? Go sit in a bar? And what will that do? And how long will that last?

Or, you've been a Christian your whole life, are you gonna pray and pray and pray? And that's what I found to be the most important….so I think for me it's just remaining faithful. I do pray a lot…I mean, I'm talking to Him all the time. I ride my bike, I'm talking to Him. You know, I just feel like I'm always having a conversation.

And then here's another verse that I hang on to, 1 Thessalonians 5:16: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” So, I mean, He wants us to pray and pray without ceasing. And those are easy words, and I think about that all the time. And I tell people, pray without ceasing, because that's what He wants from us, and just talk to Him.

And He will answer, maybe not in our time. That's the hardest part, sometimes when you have to wait. But it's always in His time. Even though I’ve asked Him along the way, sometimes could you speed up a little bit, Lord, I could use a little help here!

Favorite scriptures:

- John 3:16

- Psalm 23

- Psalm 100

- Jeremiah 32:27

- Philippians 2:3-4

Other Wise Words Worth Echoing:

- “Growing up, my mom always used to say, ‘You can’t serve God part-time.’ And so I always tell people to try something and if it doesn't work for you, get involved in something else. Maybe the food pantry or maybe there's a small group or maybe you can serve as an usher or something in your church and then you'll get to know people. But you're also serving Him…I think He expects us to give of our time as well as our finances.”

- “God doesn't pick out anybody and say, ‘unless’ – it's always, we're to love everyone. And I think that's important. And that verse [Philippians 2:3-4] really is about holding others above yourself – everyone. So, it may be tough to live by sometimes, but it's one of those things where it can give you a humble heart along the way.”

Listen to the full conversation on Apple, Spotify, or watch on YouTube.

Thank you for being here,

Katharine

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P.s. If you have the financial means to support this ministry, I’d be so grateful, as it will allow me to continue these conversations to pass on wisdom and faith to future generations. I thank you truly, kindly and sincerely.

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