Permanent Record Card

We always used to fool with my friends in high school who went to Catholic school telling them they better not screw up or it would go on their permanent record card. I am glad we have another view from scripture.


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  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 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.