Friday... He is so different, and can make such a difference.

Friday... He is so different, and can make such a difference.

Some people are just like accountants. They remember every wrong, every slight, every hurt that we have done to them. One guy who was telling of a fight he had with his wife, said, "She became historical. She told me everything that I had ever done wrong." That is so true of many people. But is it true of God? Some think it is.

Well the writer of Psalm 130:3 & 4 (NIV) says, "If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you." 

It is hard to have a good relationship with someone who is keeping a record of every wrong that we have ever done. But there are some families like that. There is that one who always remembers where you have blown it. But there is one thing that will wipe the slate clean. It is called forgiveness. Now confession is the key to forgiveness but if the one I am confessing to doesn't forgive me then that that I am confessing will still be held over me. For the record to be wiped clean then confession and forgiveness need to happen.

The Amplified Bible says, "If You, Lord, should keep an account of our sins and treat us accordingly, O Lord, who could stand [before you in judgement and claim innocence]? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared and worshiped [with submissive wonder]."

Now this can be like money in a bank account. There is forgiveness for every sin that you have done in your account. But you have to draw it out through confession. Your confession draws from your forgiveness account and wipes out your sins account. You draw from your forgiveness account by confessing.  

Does your family have a forgiveness account? Now here is a problem. If we don't forgive others their confessed wrongs to us then we will have real trouble in getting God to forgive us. We not only need to confess our sins but also we need to forgive others their sins against us. Both our confession and our forgiveness opens God's forgiveness account for us. Our remembering all the wrongs that others have done to us hinders our being forgiven by God. 

Verse 3 in The Message asks, "If you, God, kept records on wrongdoings, who would stand a chance?" And that is true in our families, in our relationships. And it goes on in verse 4, "As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit," And it needs to be our habit too. "and that's why you're worshiped." 

If we draw from our forgiveness account it will truly make a difference in our life and in the lives of those around us. And that is a great reason why we worship God. Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning