Psalm 130:3-4 If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness;
therefore you are feared.

This is a fascinating, and very true, passage that gives a lot of insight as to exactly what the Bible means by “fearing the Lord.” If that were just terror of retribution, this passage would make no sense at all. The thing is, God is big enough and powerful enough to forgive. If God were in any way threatened by our sin then He wouldn’t, couldn’t, forgive. As long as we think of God in limited terms we can’t grasp the magnificence of His grace and love. God can’t, and certainly doesn’t, excuse sin, just “sweep it under the rug.” That’s why He went to the absolutely incredible step of sending His own Son to be the atonement for our sin. It takes an infinite God to love that much! Most of the time we act like we’re hoping God won’t notice our sins. A God who wouldn’t notice wouldn’t be big enough, powerful enough, to forgive. Probably many people have preached on “Your God is Too Small,” because most of the time that’s very true! We do well to constantly seek a bigger, greater revelation of God, because the better our grasp of Him, the deeper our love and the greater our obedience will be.

Having been raised in a home of faith I have a step up on most people in this area, but that’s far from saying I have a full grasp of it all. My obedience level has improved over the years but it’s still spotty at times. Any time I fail to be fully obedient to God, that just goes to show I don’t have a sufficient grasp of who He is and how great He is. Many places the Bible talks about God being “worthy,” of praise, honor, glory and the like. That’s closely tied in with what this passage is talking about. I need to grasp that God is more than worthy of my total adoration and obedience, because only then will I be sufficiently submitted to Him for the devil to flee at my rebuke. (James 4:7) As a pastor I desire that those in my care likewise have a sufficient grasp of God, so that together we may be His instruments to cause people to recognize Him as holy, so that His kingdom may come as His will is done on earth, even as it is in heaven.

Father, You’ve given me another message, even though I just completed sermon notes yesterday for this coming Sunday. Help me know when, how, and to whom I am to share all that You pour into me, so that Your Word may indeed accomplish every purpose for which You send it, (Isaiah 55:11) for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!