What Will I Render to The Lord?
As we contemplate our 2021, our minds think on many things. Whatever we did not achieve in 2020 perhaps we will in 2021. Paul had the right concept relating to material possessions. No place in scripture do you find Paul moaning and groaning over what he did not have. His treasure chest was not of this earth, but in Heaven. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Luke 12:34 KJV)
If it were possible a lot of people would have a U-Haul hooked up to their coffin trying to take material possessions with them. Can you imagine how crazy that would look? But some people live their lives as if planet earth is their final destiny. If truth be told, when the final breath leaves our body and our earthly goods are left behind, folks will go through our stuff as if they are on a scavenger hunt. "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appeared for a little time, and then vanished away." (James 4:14 KJV) That vapor is your breath.
Of course, this is all based on your priority for your life. What is important to you, like the scripture earlier tells us where your treasure is, there will your heart be also! Ask yourself in 2021, “Where will my treasure be, where will my focus be, where do I see myself going?”
When I was in High School in Minneapolis, our pastor told everyone in the youth group to make their own tract. I titled my tract, “What shall I render unto Jehovah, for all His benefits toward me?” (Psalms 116:12)
The main character considers the Lord alone as the author and giver of his mercies. He says nothing of his own merits, nor of anyone else who might be instruments of good to him, but gives all the glory to God. With a grateful sense of God’s mercies, he recognizes he cannot render anything proportional or equivalent to what he has received. Even though he feels at a loss in how to answer, he poses the question in Psalms 116 to himself and others.
The benefits refer to the blessings of life and divine intervention. This includes the preservation of our very beings, food, raiment, protection, and so on. The spiritual blessings, grace, refer to all things pertaining to life and godliness, sanctification, adoption, pardon, justification, and eternal life. These may well be called benefits since they spring entirely from the free grace of God.
The benefits from God are many, more than could be counted. He is desirous that none of them might be forgotten, but that praise might be rendered to the Lord for them all.
If it were possible a lot of people would have a U-Haul hooked up to their coffin trying to take material possessions with them. Can you imagine how crazy that would look? But some people live their lives as if planet earth is their final destiny. If truth be told, when the final breath leaves our body and our earthly goods are left behind, folks will go through our stuff as if they are on a scavenger hunt. "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appeared for a little time, and then vanished away." (James 4:14 KJV) That vapor is your breath.
Of course, this is all based on your priority for your life. What is important to you, like the scripture earlier tells us where your treasure is, there will your heart be also! Ask yourself in 2021, “Where will my treasure be, where will my focus be, where do I see myself going?”
When I was in High School in Minneapolis, our pastor told everyone in the youth group to make their own tract. I titled my tract, “What shall I render unto Jehovah, for all His benefits toward me?” (Psalms 116:12)
The main character considers the Lord alone as the author and giver of his mercies. He says nothing of his own merits, nor of anyone else who might be instruments of good to him, but gives all the glory to God. With a grateful sense of God’s mercies, he recognizes he cannot render anything proportional or equivalent to what he has received. Even though he feels at a loss in how to answer, he poses the question in Psalms 116 to himself and others.
The benefits refer to the blessings of life and divine intervention. This includes the preservation of our very beings, food, raiment, protection, and so on. The spiritual blessings, grace, refer to all things pertaining to life and godliness, sanctification, adoption, pardon, justification, and eternal life. These may well be called benefits since they spring entirely from the free grace of God.
The benefits from God are many, more than could be counted. He is desirous that none of them might be forgotten, but that praise might be rendered to the Lord for them all.