What shall I return to the Lord
Psalm 116:12 NRSV
for all his bounty to me?
Christina Rossetti’s poem, A Christmas Carol, ends with this famous stanza:
What can I give Him, poor as I am?
Christina Rossetti
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man, I would do my part;
Yet what can I give Him?
Give Him my heart.
We hear that same question echoed in The Little Drummer Boy, “I have no gift to bring that’s fit for our King.” Interestingly, the Psalmist asked this question as well! And scripture provides the answers, our gifts – worship, obedience, rejoicing, and singing!
The Lord acts in extravagant bounty towards us;
we respond in worship!
I love the Lord because he has heard
Psalm 116:1, 2, 5 NRSV
my voice and my supplications.
Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live. …
Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
our God is merciful.
The Lord acts in extravagant bounty towards us;
we obey out of gratitude!
Deal bountifully with your servant,
Psalm 119:17-18 ESV
that I may live and keep your word.
Open my eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of your law.
The Lord acts in extravagant bounty towards us;
we rejoice and sing!
But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
Psalm 13:5-6 ESV
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.
The Lord acts in extravagant bounty towards us;
we are blessed with rest!
Return, O my soul, to your rest,
Psalm 116:7 NRSV
for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
We find rest for our souls in God’s bounty towards us. Too often we miss out on this rest. Instead we seek control as if everything depends on us.
We work hard.
We strive to perform well.
We put forth effort to sustain ourselves.
If we are not aware, we will find ourselves exhausted even in doing good.
Today Jesus invites us to experience the bounty of His grace!
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it.
Matthew 11:28-29 MSG
Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.
Father, you are gracious, righteous, merciful and your bounty to us overwhelming. Teach us to respond in worship, obedience, rejoicing and singing. And as we focus on your bountiful grace to us, may we experience the satisfaction of rest, learning the unforced rhythms of your grace. Amen.
