“What shall I return to the LORD for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD. I will fulfill my vows to the LORDin the presence of all his people.”

Psalms 116:12-13

The most powerful Christian symbol lies in Psalm 116:12 and 13, leaping unbidden from the page: ‘What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.’ The best thing we can do for Jesus is to accept the cup of salvation he offers. We do this symbolically when we take, consecrate, break and give the bread, and drink the wine, the symbolic cup of salvation. Later in our Mark readings, Jesus speaks of the cup of suffering. We must never forget that the cup of salvation is also the cup of suffering. That is the essence of the message which we take into the world.

APPLY

We can ask Jesus, Lord of the cup of salvation, to take us, consecrate us, break us, and distribute us. He will send us out into the world as his witnesses.

CLOSING PRAYER

Loving Savior, it amazes me that you would pay the price for my salvation. It confounds me that you would choose to use me—with all of my frailties—and send me to be your witness. You have called me and you are sending me; help me to be faithful.

(edited from Encounter with God)