I love the Lord because he hears
my requests for mercy.
2 I’ll call out to him as long as I live,
because he listens closely to me.
3 Death’s ropes bound me;
the distress of the grave found me—
I came face-to-face with trouble and grief.
4 So I called on the Lord’s name:
“Lord, please save me!”
12 What can I give back to the Lord
for all the good things he has done for me?
13 I’ll lift up the cup of salvation.
I’ll call on the Lord’s name.
14 I’ll keep the promises I made to the Lord
in the presence of all God’s people.
15 The death of the Lord’s faithful
is a costly loss in his eyes.
16 Oh yes, Lord, I am definitely your servant!
I am your servant and the son of your female servant—
you’ve freed me from my chains.
17 So I’ll offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to you,
and I’ll call on the Lord’s name.
18 I’ll keep the promises I made to the Lord
in the presence of all God’s people,
19 in the courtyards of the Lord’s house,
which is in the center of Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord!
Reflection
I found it a little strange to be meditating on a scripture reading from the Psalms as we
celebrate the season of Easter. What do these ancient, sacred words have to say to us
thousands of years after both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament were shared with God’s people? In this season of Easter, as we walk with the Risen Christ, let us reflect on our relationship with God through today’s scripture. There are two verses that caught my attention: Psalm 116:12 & 14 “What can I give back to the Lord for all the good things God has done for me? I’ll keep the promises I made to the Lord in the presence of all God’s people.” It’s all about love.
It’s all about Love as we find in Deuteronomy 6:5 or Luke 10:27 and/or Matthew 22:37- 38: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your heart, all your soul and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” It’s as simple, and as challenging, as that. It’s all about Love. Unconditional Love, just as God loves us. If you have a relationship with God the basis of everything we say or do should be built on LOVE, especially our promises to God.
One of the church families I am a part of is the Fountains UMC in Fountain Hills, AZ. Their Mission Statement is at the heart of that congregation, and I have also adopted it as my own: “As followers of Jesus, we put love first.” It’s as simple as that: Love, above all else. Put love first.
I promise, as a follower of Jesus, that I will always work to put love first, as Jesus would.
by Kathleen Stolz
For Pondering and Prayer
What promises have you made during your life? The answers to that question are unique to each individual. For me those answers begin with Family and UMC Ordination. It has been a struggle sometimes, I admit, but the basis for it all is LOVE. As I have walked through life, the
definition of Family has blossomed to include all humanity and creation, and Ordination
has given me the guidance of the Risen Christ framed within the progressive theology
of the United Methodist Church.
What promises have you made to God?
What is your personal mission statement?
Prayer: Risen Christ, Loving Spirit, we come to you this day and every day offering our gifts of
Love. Help us to put love first in our thoughts, words and deeds. Give us strength and courage as our brother, Jesus, has taught us to do. We know that following Jesus is not an easy road to walk. In this season of Easter, we celebrate you and promise to put love first in all that we say and do. Amen.
