Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
O Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.

If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins,
O Lord, who could stand?

But with you there is forgiveness;
therefore you are feared.

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I put my hope.

My soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.

O Israel, put your hope in the LORD,
for with the LORD is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.

He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins. (Psalm 130:1-8 NIV).

Here's a thought for you to ponder as you go through your day: What if the Lord kept a record of our sins?

The Psalmist says if the Lord did keep a record of sins, no one can stand (vs. 2). "Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy" (Vs. 1-2).

How would you respond? "Oh my! I'm in trouble!" "Tell me it's not true!" "I knew all that talk about grace and mercy was too good to be true." "I am ruined. I am a man of unclean lips among a people of unclean lips" (Isaiah 6:5).

It is a horrible thought, isn't it? Every sin you've ever committed would be kept on file. All kinds of questions race through your mind. Is the file locked? Who has the key? Would it be possible to have the key? There is no hope. I am doomed!

Then, in verse 4 our fears are relieved when he says, "But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared" (NIV). "As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit, and that's why you're worshiped" (The Message). "But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you" (The New Living Version).

From fear to respect.

From dread to hope.

From anxiety to relief.

From dread to hope.

From sorrow to joy.

From the worst news possible to the best news possible. "With you there is forgiveness."

Thank You, Lord, for being a God who offers forgiveness.

 

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Title: "If the Lord Kept Records"
Author: Tom Norvell
Publication Date: October 26, 2008

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Tom Norvell is the author of "A Norvell Note." He ministers at the Hermitage Church of Christ in Hermitage, Tennessee.

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