"Today's Devotion": (08/14/03) Keeping Tabs

Read: II Corinthians 5:11-21 Psalm 130

KEEPING TABS by Rev. Richard Boeck

"If You, O Lord, keep a record of my sins, O Lord, who can stand? But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared."(Ps.130:3,4)

We use technology in so many ways these days, it's hard to keep track of everything. In fact, that's what we do with a great deal of our technology--keep track of things. The latest "tracking" technology is currently being used to keep track of people being released from prison after serving time for being "sexual predators." The State of Wisconsin decided recently to use Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) technology to keep track of such released person to insure they don't go places they're not supposed to go and they meet the restrictions of their paroles or releases. In short, the State is determined to keep tabs on such persons.

What's so sad is that we have to do such things at all. One would hope that people who have served their time in prison would be able to come back into society redeemed and ready to live peaceable, productive lives. Yet, what makes them any different from the rest of us? We keep tabs on each other, too. When spouses "fight" one may remind the other about that spouse's previous transgressions. And this happens between siblings, parents and children, co-workers, neighbors, and employers and employees. We may say we've forgiven someone, but we remember, especially when that person does the same thing over again. Keeping a running tab seems to be our most prevalent way of pointing fingers at others and it hurts relationships and keep trust from being reborn.

God, on the other hand, for all His perfection and almighty power, has a poor memory when it comes to sinners. While He keeps tabs of the sins of those who refuse to repent and turn to Him for forgiveness and peace, He forgets the sins of those who have repented and received that forgiveness. If God were to keep tabs on our sins, we'd definitely be lost and condemned creatures forever. Yet He wants to forgive us. He wants us to know His love and mercy, and be filled with awe and reverence for Him. As St. Paul reminded the Christians at Corinth, our heavenly Father sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ to pay the ultimate price for your sins and mine so that we might be reconciled to God. And we are. Each day is a new day. Your slate and mine before God is clean in Jesus. He's not "keeping tabs."

Prayer: Father, I know that I'm not worthy of all Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness that You have given me in Jesus. While I never seem to be able to forget it when someone hurts me, even though they've asked for forgiveness and I've given it, You wipe the slate clean and no longer remember my sins. You are an Awesome God! I praise Your Holy Name. I give thanks for all Your goodness and blessings to me. You have made my life complete and whole because You have removed my sins by the blood of Christ. Father, I pray that You would keep me safely in Your arms, strengthening me in my faith and trust in Jesus as my Lord and Savior, by the power of Your Word and Spirit. Show me how I can live in and for You so that I might be an example to others and they might know Your forgiveness, freely given and undeserved in Jesus; in Whose precious name I pray. Amen.

--Pastor Boeck Copyright @2003. All rights reserved.

************************************* Pastor Richard Boeck is writer and publisher of “Today’s Devotion,” a brief, daily devotion that brings the grace and love of God in Jesus Christ to bear on the events of the day and people’s lives. If you wish to receive a free subscription please send an email to: mailto:revrboeck@netscape.net. Please put “Send me‘Today’s Devotion’” in the subject box. Please also include your first and last names in the body. You may also address any questions to the same address. ************************************