What Shall I Render?

                                    When I read, Psalm 116:12-17 quoted below, my primary thoughts are on this coming Memorial Day: (that day we have set aside Nationally to recognize those valiant men and women who fought and died so we here in The United States of America can retain the freedom God has bestowed on us. 

              I first think about my Father, 1^st Lieutenant R E Chastain, who on April 26^th, 1951, died in Korea.  A soldier with many honours, he was one of many who valiantly gave his life for those of us who “stayed by the stuff.”

              As I ponder all this, and consider that the Lord God has given Sharil and I now 50 years together. He has given us two wonderful daughters, three grandsons, and one, only one, wonderful granddaughter.

              Therefore, the question remains:

Psalms 116:12  What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?

God has taken away; yet He has given abundantly.  God has been so gracious.  He has extended His grace and mercy to all my family.  We have lost, and benefitted in all He has given.

              One thing that I haven’t given to Him is my total devotion, my total heart.  (In retrospect, that is what He wants of each of us.)

Joel 2:13  And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

We as a rule want to give Him “our things,” which in fact are already His.  God wants us to “search our hearts” and look deep within and remove all the junk, and restore ourselves to His Glory.  We must look within and with the help of The Holy Spirit repent of the ways we have (maybe unwittingly) walked.

                       

Romans 12:1-2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  (2)  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

              “Reader, did you notice that Paul was speaking to the “brethren,” Christians?”  God has given us The Holy Spirit to guide us to His Glorification.  So, to answer my own question, “What Shall I Render?” The answer is “myself.”   I have nothing in God’s sight except my heart and soul, and that is what He wants.  Will you “…render unto the LORD…” today?  Our sacrifices to God are of  even greater importance than the sacrifice for man and country.

Bro. John R. E Chastain

Psalms 116:12-17  What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?  (13)  I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.  (14)  I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.  (15)  Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.  (16)  O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.  (17)  I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.