Blessed Thursday to each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, your Savior!
Today is Holy or Maundy Thursday of the holiest week of the year. The two main themes of this holy day are pretty well known. First, after Jesus served His disciples by washing their feet, He gave a new commandment [mandatum in Latin, from which we get the name Maundy Thursday] to love one another as God loves us. Later, Jesus instituted the new Passover, His holy Supper, and commanded us "This do in remembrance of Me." Today I'd like to focus on the psalmist's question in verse 12.
Psalm 116: 12-19
12 What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits to me?
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord,
14 I will pay my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all His people.
15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.
16 O Lord, I am Your servant;
I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant.
You have loosed my bonds.
17 I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving
and call on the name of the Lord.
18 I will pay my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all His people,
19 in the courts of the house of the Lord,
in your midst, O Jerusalem.
God gives you all things, even the things which are difficult, the situations in which you struggle. All God's gifts are given so our attention, love and honor are always on Him. But what can we give or render back to God? God gives many suggestions in this psalm. Call on His name, in prayer, every day. Pay your vows of thanksgiving as you worship God in every way possible. Serve God by following His will for your life, and reflect God's love you've received by serving others.
Why do we render or give back to God? Most certainly NOT to earn His favor or move us closer to salvation or heaven in any way. Give of yourself back to God, because God has loosed your bonds. God has saved you by forgiving your sins and giving you faith, life and salvation! There are no other gifts you will ever receive which can even come close to these! So naturally, we respond to God with lives of thanksgiving, praise and service!
Live today in the freedom and joy God gives to you! The Lord has loosed your bonds! The Lord forgives your sins!
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Mark
Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS Burton, Michigan
office: 810.744.1188
We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:
Sharing God’s Love & Mercy with Each Other & the World.
Soli Deo Gloria
"The LORD is a stronghold in times of trouble." Psalm 9:9
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