May 4
________________________________________WHAT SHALL I RENDER TO THE LORD?
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. Praise the LORD! – Psalm 116:12-19
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When you love someone, don’t you do something for them to show that love? In this psalm, the people of God are urged to show their love for the Lord by: lifting up the cup of salvation and call on his name. Declaring our love for the Lord in the presence of all other believers is another suggestion that is mentioned in this psalm. If we utter such declarations of love and devotion to Jesus even in the midst of unbelievers, we are shining the truth and the light to them. Making our Lord our Master and Savior means that we are only to serve him and no other gods or idols. As servants of Christ, we are to bow down to him alone and follow him. We are to love one another as he first loved us. We are supposed to prioritize him in everything we do. We are to focus on him despite all the things that we cannot understand and have control over. We need to surrender all to him who knows and sees all things and is the Almighty and Power behind all creation.
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ADORATION: I bless and bow down only to my Master, Maker, Lord and Savior Jesus!
CONFESSION: I will show my love to the Lord by following him and taking up my cross daily.
THANKSGIVING: I am forever grateful for your sacrifice on the cross for me.
SUPPLICATION: May all believers not only say they love the Lord, but live for him as well. May they obey and live within his will.
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REFLECTION
• Why is obedience and faithfulness and loyalty important in our Christian lives?
• What happens when we only say we love God and yet not obey and live for him?