Read Psalm 116:12-19 12What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me? 13I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, 14I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. 15Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. 16O Lord, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant. You have loosed my bonds. 17I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord. 18I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, 19in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!
On first reading it can sound like the psalmist is attempting to pay God back for his grace and salvation – What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me? But on closer examination we see that the psalmist’s response, like the Christian’s, is driven by gratitude, not payback, for who can payback an infinite God?
He will lift up the cup of salvation.
Recall that this hymn was sung by Christ on the night of his death, the night he turned the cup of affliction into the cup of salvation at the Passover meal. We honor God not by paying him back, not by bringing our own cup to the meal, but by taking more from him. We honor Christ when we continue to drink from his cup of salvation.
His vow is fulfilled at the altar of thanksgiving. His commitment is one of servanthood – O Lord, I am your servant. Freely chosen service – you have loosed my bonds.
Is this not the same vow Christ made when he washed feet and went to the cross? Is this not our same vow as Christ followers who are indwelt by his servant heart? Our vow of service flows from Christ’s same freedom, love, and gratitude.
To live is Christ is the life of gratitude, thanksgiving, and yes, service. Service not as payback, but as faith in the never empty cup of salvation.
You: In what ways do you see your service as payback to Jesus?
You in Christ: How does union with Christ give us a “never empty cup” of salvation?
Christ in you: How can you change your attitude from giving to Jesus to receiving from Jesus?
Pray: Jesus, live out your vow to the Father through me. Keep me drinking from your cup of salvation. Your gift to me may I return as my gift to you. Amen.
To Live is Christ 