October 13, 2014
Psalm 116:12-15
(All scripture is from the New King James Version unless otherwise indicated.)
Here is what the author of Psalm 116 says about how he will “…render [thanks] to the Lord for all His benefits…” – verses 12 through 15:
What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits toward me? I will take
up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my
vows to the LORD now in the presence of all His people. Precious in the
sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.
I find it interesting that the first thing of appreciation the psalmist will do is to “…take up the cup of salvation….” Don’t we usually give something in return for a gift bestowed upon us? Sometimes it is just a ‘Thank you’ note or phone call. Sometimes a pan or plate is returned to the giver filled with our gift to them. But here the first thing mentioned is taking something more – “…the cup of salvation….” Why is this taking such an expression of thanks to God?
We have all received gifts that we find rather useless. We unwrap the present and exclaim, “Oh….just what I always wanted! ……………..What is it?! ” If it is a decent ‘something’ we can’t use, we sometimes ‘regift’ it. However, one of the best ways to express our appreciation for a needed and useful gift is to make good and constant use of it!
There is not a more needed and useful gift than God’s cup of salvation! Without it, we are destined for a wasted life and an eternal death! Jesus said in Mark 8:36, “…what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? ” Paul wrote of the unsaved:
…you…were dead in trespasses and sins…children of wrath…and…children
of disobedience …alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works…
without Christ…having no hope and without God in the world. (Ephesians
2:1-3, 11, 12; Colossians 1:21).
But here are some of the benefits God has given us in the cup of salvation:
• Psalm 103:12 – “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
• John 5:24 – Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, He who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”
• John 10:10 – “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
• Hebrews 13:5, Matthew 28:20 – “…He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you….I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
• Galatians 5:22, 23 – “…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
These are just a few of the benefits God has loaded upon us! (See Psalm 68:19). Talk about useful! Surely we should “…take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.” And what better way to thank God than to drink continually and fully of that rich cup He has given to us!
Have you done that? Have you taken up the cup of salvation? Do you do that regularly? Remember, this cup of salvation was purchased at a tremendous cost! The price was the death of Jesus Christ upon the cross – the only sacrifice acceptable to take away sin from before the Father!
So thank Him – and do it by making full use of His gift to you. “…take up the cup of salvation…” by initially and regularly embracing the Lord Jesus Christ.