Lessons From My Childhood

12 May Lessons From My Childhood

When I was growing up, my brothers and I were picked up from school by our Uncle, our Dad’s younger brother. He lived with us when his University was on vacation and when he finally finished school. In the beginning, we were happy to see him go when school was back on because he wasn’t one of those fun uncles that brought back chocolates and presents, he brought with him strict rules and maths questions. So, during our vacation times, while all the other children played on the street, we were either solving math questions or reading our bible.

As a child, it seemed like the end of the world, being stuck with an Uncle with a “no fun” policy, an Uncle so strict that we couldn’t wait to avoid him by going to sleep. But now, as I look back, I am able to appreciate some of the things he was able to offer my brothers and I.
During our morning and nightly devotion, he made us recite a few things including the usual “Grace” and Psalm 23:6. One of those recitations was Romans 1:16

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek”.

To be honest, when I was reciting it back then, these words had no meaning to me. All I knew was that I had to say it with deep conviction and believe that what I was saying was true and was meant to be delivered to the world.
Nowadays, these words bring more understanding to me about who I am, who I should be and who the people around me should be.

First of all, I should never hide my faith. It is who I am, my destiny. I should be proud to declare that I am a child of God and preach His word to any one that is willing to hear. God has given me the gift of Salvation because I was able to believe. There is no way I will not be proud enough to declare that to the world.

Now, apart from me, He has also given the right of that same Salvation to anyone. Not only to those who were born into the religion (Jews) but also to all others who were misinformed about Him being the One True God. He has said, that we, those that know, would check ourselves first and be sure to receive the Salvation, knowing that, being born into the religion alone does not save you, but believing that He is true and willing accepting Him as truth. After we have received Him, we are then tasked with the job of telling the world (Greek) those that are living not knowing that His salvation is open to them. My evangelism skills are not what I would call prime (unlike my mother’s gift), but I will definitely try to tell anyone in my life, whenever I have the opportunity, that His love is so expanded, that He has freely given us all Salvation; NO discrimination!