In Matthew 16, we see these verses:
3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you. - Psalm 130
This was written back in the pre-Jesus times. Yet even then, the writer speaks of forgiveness of our sins. How much more is that available to us with the blood of Jesus to wash those sins away? We can be so thankful that the LORD does not keep a record of our sins. If He did, we could not stand.
Has someone ever done something to you that you hold onto and struggle letting go of? Now I do think there can be wisdom in remembering things that are dangerous – say, you play a game of pool with your then-boyfriend, and he hits you with a cue stick in the face on accident. Then maybe, when you play pool with your now-husband, you are a little extra careful to make sure you don’t get too close when he is lining up a shot.
That’s a joking example, but there are times when serious hurt may be done, and we can learn from those instances so they don’t get repeated. But learning from things and keeping a record of sins to hold against people is very different. As you are reading Psalms 130 today, ask yourself, is there someone that you need to forgive or something you need to let go of?
Our New Testament chapter for today is Matthew 16 which is where Peter makes the big confession – identifies the truth – that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. If we too confess this, we can take part in the forgiveness of sins.
The Psalm continues on -
5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
6 I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
I don’t feel that I do a great job of waiting for the LORD with my whole being. It isn’t in the forefront of my mind. It is easy to live life with the focus not being on God with so many different things available to distract us. How would my life look different if that was my main focus?
We talked in a youth group class this year about how the good news should radically alter our lives. It should infuse every aspect of it. That thought came up again in a book I was reading related to parenting. The gospel changes everything. If God is my main focus, and I let the salvation that Jesus has made possible alter every part of my life, that includes how I interact with my children. Parenting is what stood out to me in that, but that might not be where it hits you – maybe for you, you are struck that the gospel should change how you go to school, interact with your friends, work at your job, etc.
If you want a song reminder of this Psalm, visit https://open.spotify.com/track/6A6GlReEZA0eG48K9yKK0J to hear a song written by Aaron Winner called “Wait For the Morning.”
~Stephanie Fletcher