December 30, 2022
My dearly beloved in Christ, I greet and bless you in the Name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The auspicious word of God that comes to you for today, is taken from the book of Psalms, 116:12,13 “ 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.’’
We are coming almost to the end of this year. According to the above verse David cries out to God, saying “Lord how shall I thank you for all that you have done for me in my life? I shall take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord. ” If you see the life of David, we can find that the Lord had done great many things in his life. So he wants to show his gratitude towards his God. Therefore he says, “ I will take the cup of salvation and call upon your name.”The Lord has done many benefits for him. God had saved him from the mouth of the death several times. He was almost at the verge of death many times but at the last moment the Lord stretched out his arms and rescued him from his death. That is why in one of his Psalms, He says,“The Lord has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death.”God not only honoured him but also caused him to be victorious before his enemies. Though King Saul tried to kill him many times God saved his life from his cruel hands. God saved his life from the mouth of wild animals that attacked him while he was tending his father’s sheep. God lifted him up from the low state of shepherding the flock of sheep, and raised him to the level of a king in Israel.
David had tasted the love of God inch by inch. That is why he says, What can I do for all that God has done for me in my life? The Lord has done much help for me whenever I needed His help. How can I compensate for all the blessings that He had done for me. He therefore says, “ I will take the cup of salvation and call upon His holy name and worship Him. ”He thought that if ever he should give something for the Lord then the cup of salvation will be the best gift offering to the Lord. That is what the Lord will expect and be pleased with David too. Cup of salvation indicates the transformation of man into a new creation. God would like the renewed form of man having acknowledged as the Lord and Master of his life. When one receives salvation of God and forgiveness of his sins then there is great rejoicing in heaven about the newly changed person. I will fall at his feet as a man free from all curse and sin and worship Him. If you think that God will be pleased with you in something great then that would be the thanksgiving that you would offer as the highest form of tribute.
As you have come to the end of the year, Instead of entering the New Year with all your old sinful nature, be renewed in the Lord, and enter the New Year as a new creation, a new person fully changed into the newness of God. Worship the Lord with a purified heart. Be sanctified and worship him in truth and in spirit for this will be the kind of worship that could be offered as a form of thanksgiving for all the benefits that you have obtained from the Lord.
Surrender your life to the Lord completely. Ask God to give back the last redemption in Christ in case you have lost your redemption. David also sinned against God. He committed adultery with Bathsheba, He fell in the sin of lust. But after he came to know that he had sinned against God he repented of his sin and asked God to hide His face from his sin, and to blot out all his iniquities. He tells the Lord, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation. ”He was very careful not to lose his salvation. And he cries to the Lord, “ Do not take away the Holy Spirit from me.” But uphold me by Your generous spirit.”He asks God to deliver him from the guilt of bloodshed and praises God with his tongue.” He says, “ My mouth shall show forth Your praise.” This was the kind of experience that David enjoyed in his life and this was a wise thing that he did. We too should adapt ourselves the attitude of David and enter the New Year with renewed spirit. Not a spirit of weariness but spirit of enthusiasm. You also should repent of all your sins and tell God that you have gone far from Him and now you like to draw closer to God. Ask God to give you back the lost salvation. As salvation is very important in your life. He will willingly accept you and bless you as He had blessed David, and the New Year will really be a blessing to you.
Prayer: Lord we thank You. I bless all the children in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you Lord for keeping the hand of grace upon them. As per this verse, may your children cry out to God saying, “Lord what shall I give back in return for all the good You have done for me in my life.” Give us a good heart that we may take the cup of salvation and come before your presence with a renewed heart and worship You. Let them worship You in the beauty of Your holiness. Bless all those children who have fallen at Your feet, with more than their expectation than what they think or ask, or pray for. Bless them Lord in the coming year with every good gift and honour them with a successful life.
In Jesus Name We Pray.
Amen.
