Psalm 130: A life of service

by Andi Norton

Psalm 130 (NIV)

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.

Last week I encouraged us to think back to all God has done in transforming us from a hopeless, bound, people to the new creation we are through Jesus.
Today's psalm has a similar reflection, in verse 3 it states if God was to keep a record of sin, we'd all fall short.
But (oh how we love this word 'But') there is forgiveness!
Forgiveness is something we all have and something we all are thankful for I'm sure (and let me state the word 'thankful' doesn't even cut it), but there are times when we can take it for granted, and there are many who do not even comprehend it.

But the psalmist says we've received this pardon so that we can 'with reverence', serve Him.

God desires a people who will serve Him, who will be ambassadors of His message (2 Corinthians 5:20), but in order to do this we must remind ourselves a fresh of this extremely awesome gift He has given us. We need a revelation of it. For when we receive revelation, we become passionate, full of joy, and the joy of the Lord is our strength. It fuels us and we become a fire, we become a light that radiates God, and this task becomes so natural.

It's out of this heart of thanksgiving, we wish to lay our lives down in humble service to our God, it's not out of duty but out of complete reverence for who He is and what He's done.

He first loved us, and my cry in response is I too love Him, I want to give my all to His purposes, His plans for my life, and serve Him wholeheartedly in this short expanse of time He's given us in this mortal flesh, and my prayer is the same for You, because this is our calling.

We know what it's like to put our hope in other things and it has only brought hopelessness, hunger and desperation, But this forgiveness has given us the contrary.

And so you and I:

5 wait for the Lord, our whole being waits,
and in His word We put our hope.

And we do so trusting Him, serving Him, whole heartedly until His return.

Lord would you help us to do as these words say:

Romans 12
1 So then, my friends, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer.2 Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.