Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Jesus Christ: The Way, Truth and Life
Psalms 116
Vs. 12 -15 How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD. I will fulfil my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
Psalms 116
Vs. 12 -15 How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD. I will fulfil my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
Psalm 116 is a song of thanksgiving. This psalm is a testimony of the gracious character and righteous purposes of God. Psalmist went through some difficult experiences in his life. He almost lost his life. But God heard his cry and delivered him. The psalmist asserts that God helps those who cannot help themselves. So this Psalm invites us to abstain from self-reliance and fully trust in God. How should we respond to God’s deliverance in our life? Psalmist’s answer is to love God. Our love towards God is manifested through witnessing to God’s character (vv. 5-6), gratitude (vv.12-14, 17-19) and humble service (v. 16).
God delivered psalmist from death and stopped his tears. He strengthened and guided his feet so that he did not stumble (v. 8). God comes down to where we are to deliver us and make us all that He wants us to be. God loves us despite our sin. He hears our prayers, our praise, and our cries for help. He walks besides us through our sorrows and He celebrates with us in our joy. God delivered us from death so that we may have an eternal life with Him.
How could we ever repay Him for such things? Psalmist asks the same question in v. 12 “What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me?” He gives us our answers in the following passages, beginning with “I will lift the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord.” God expects us to lean on to Him; to call upon Him. Showing loyalty and trust, sacrificial offerings through our life, because it proves we live to serve Him. We can repay God by living our lives as His witness. Sharing God’s word, serving others using our God-given skills and talents, and showing compassion to those around us; are all different ways we can show God how grateful we are for His love and mercy.
The psalmist experienced the grace of God. We, too, have all this through His son Jesus Christ. He is the source of grace and mercy. Jesus is the way truth and life. In Him, we discover, the path we supposed to live, and the supreme truth we are longing for and our reason for living. Undeniably, life includes difficult periods of burden-bearing and cross-carrying. But even in those times, Jesus grants us an unimaginable peace when we place our trust in Him.
Verse 15 says that the death of God’s children is so precious to God that it will not be an accident. The psalmist was brought low and almost died (v. 3). He was going to die, and then he cried out to God, who replied, “Your death is so precious to me, I will not allow you to die just by an accident.” The death of everyone who goes home to be with the Lord is not an accident, but it is an appointment. We are immortal until our work is done. That is a real encouragement. I think we are more seriously thinking about our mortality in the midst of deadly pandemic Covid-19. This is the time to develop courage and hope to face our death. Absolutely death is a sure thing in all of our life. But Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection guarantees our resurrection to indescribable glorious life forever. Death for the believer is precious for God because Jesus Christ bore our sins on the cross to give us eternal life.
God delivered psalmist from death and stopped his tears. He strengthened and guided his feet so that he did not stumble (v. 8). God comes down to where we are to deliver us and make us all that He wants us to be. God loves us despite our sin. He hears our prayers, our praise, and our cries for help. He walks besides us through our sorrows and He celebrates with us in our joy. God delivered us from death so that we may have an eternal life with Him.
How could we ever repay Him for such things? Psalmist asks the same question in v. 12 “What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me?” He gives us our answers in the following passages, beginning with “I will lift the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord.” God expects us to lean on to Him; to call upon Him. Showing loyalty and trust, sacrificial offerings through our life, because it proves we live to serve Him. We can repay God by living our lives as His witness. Sharing God’s word, serving others using our God-given skills and talents, and showing compassion to those around us; are all different ways we can show God how grateful we are for His love and mercy.
The psalmist experienced the grace of God. We, too, have all this through His son Jesus Christ. He is the source of grace and mercy. Jesus is the way truth and life. In Him, we discover, the path we supposed to live, and the supreme truth we are longing for and our reason for living. Undeniably, life includes difficult periods of burden-bearing and cross-carrying. But even in those times, Jesus grants us an unimaginable peace when we place our trust in Him.
Verse 15 says that the death of God’s children is so precious to God that it will not be an accident. The psalmist was brought low and almost died (v. 3). He was going to die, and then he cried out to God, who replied, “Your death is so precious to me, I will not allow you to die just by an accident.” The death of everyone who goes home to be with the Lord is not an accident, but it is an appointment. We are immortal until our work is done. That is a real encouragement. I think we are more seriously thinking about our mortality in the midst of deadly pandemic Covid-19. This is the time to develop courage and hope to face our death. Absolutely death is a sure thing in all of our life. But Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection guarantees our resurrection to indescribable glorious life forever. Death for the believer is precious for God because Jesus Christ bore our sins on the cross to give us eternal life.
PRAYER
Dear God, thank you for the Grace you given through Your Son. Lord, we submit ourselves in to Your hands and completely trust in You. Help me to live a witnessing life. In Jesus Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Neither your life nor your death is an accident. Take comfort in the fact that God knew every detail of your life before you were born. You have work to do for Him, and when the work is finished only then will He take you to be with Himself.
Sini Blezin – Mar Thoma Church of Dallas, Farmers Branch
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church
Dear God, thank you for the Grace you given through Your Son. Lord, we submit ourselves in to Your hands and completely trust in You. Help me to live a witnessing life. In Jesus Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Neither your life nor your death is an accident. Take comfort in the fact that God knew every detail of your life before you were born. You have work to do for Him, and when the work is finished only then will He take you to be with Himself.
Sini Blezin – Mar Thoma Church of Dallas, Farmers Branch
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church