Posts Tagged: Psalm 130:3-4
“Listing the Good Things I’ve Done”
One of my most encouraging friends made a wonderful suggestion. Knowing my tendency to notice my failings, but not what I get right, my friend asked if I ever made a list of good things that I’ve done at the end of the day.
The short answer was, “No.”
However, thanks to Gary’s question, the answer is now, Yes!” But man, is it ever hard! I’m pretty good at remembering my wrong-doings, both the small and the great. My good deeds? Not so much.
Of course, if a body is already pretty full of himself or herself, making a list of daily deeds might not be the best idea. There are those who remember only their accomplishments—even their imaginary accomplishments.
Ultimately, as a Christ-follower, I believe that my lists are not the most important lists. The most important lists are the ones God keeps. There are Scriptures that speak of God keeping a list of the good things we do. Some lists are specifically designated as written down. In some cases, the lists are implied lists.
Malachi 3:16-17 is a good example of a list of good things.
“Mal. 3:16 ¶ Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name.
Mal. 3:17 “They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.”
Apparently, fearing the LORD and speaking about him to other believers catches God’s attention.
Jesus listed a number of positive good deeds that would be mentioned on judgment day in Matthew 25:31-40. These deeds included caring for the hungry and thirsty, hospitality, clothing the naked, and visiting those who are sick or in prison. Jesus not only notices, but also considers these good deeds to have been done for him.
Of course, the idea that God keeps records of our deeds is not altogether comforting, is it? What about our bad deeds? Yes, according to Romans 2:6, in the supernatural course of things, God will repay each person according to his/her deeds.
But then there are other Scriptures that point out a wonderfully surprising—even shocking—truth. Here is one of these shockers:
“Psa. 130:3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.”
According to this verse, God doesn’t keep a record of our sins. He leaves that up to our fellow sinners. However, for the unwisdom of us keeping a record of the wrong-doings of others, see 1 Corinthians 13:5.
DTEB, “A NEW CARD GAME: MENTAL GOLF”
Thursday, December 20, 2018
I have not been happy with my thought life for the past couple of days. My thoughts have not been entirely off the rails, but many of my thoughts have not been God-honoring thoughts, either. Gluttonous thoughts, excessively angry and fearful thoughts, lustful thoughts, envious thoughts, worried thoughts, self-pitying thoughts—what a messy mind I have at times! I wonder why I have so many problems with my mind? Or is really helpful to ask why?
Perhaps I should stop asking why, and instead play a sort-of mental “golf” card game. Golf—when you’re talking about cards—is a game for two or more persons. The goal is to have the lowest score possible (or, at least, a lower score than your opponent/s). Hence the name “golf.”
In golf, you are dealt four cards. There is a “stock deck” in the middle of the table, which you cannot see, of course. You take turns substituting higher point cards in your hand for the cards in the stock deck. Sometimes you substitute a high-point card for an even higher point card, but that is the chance you take. Eventually, someone raps on the table, people reveal their cards, and the person with the lowest total points wins.
What if I regarded my thought life as a game of golf? What if I envisioned the stock deck as face up and spread out, so that I could see the point values of the various cards? Then, I could substitute a bad card in my hand for a better one from the stock deck.
When it comes to my thoughts, I can generally discern which ones are life-affirming and which ones are not. If I am aware and honest, I know what cards I have in my mind. And the good cards in the stock deck are face up.
Eventually, Death raps his knuckles on the table, and the game is over. I want to have the lowest possible score.
In a sense, the analogy is helpful to me. It turns my thought life into a game. I am much better at having fun with serious things, than I am at being serious about serious things.
In another sense, the analogy is not in line with what I believe at all. I believe that God forgives me of all my sins—even my bad thought life. In a sense, God doesn’t keep score. “If iniquities you kept, O LORD, O Lord, who could stand? But with you is forgiveness, in order that you may be feared.” (Psalm 130:3-4, my translation)
But I still want to honor God with my thoughts, as well as with my words and actions. Better thoughts will not only honor God, but also will be better for me. Better thoughts will also be good for everyone with whom I come into contact.
Today, I will play mental golf. Care to join me?
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