October 2025
“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.” – Psalm 116:12-13
The Unpayable Debt
Have you ever had someone do something so kind for you that you felt you could never repay them? Maybe it was a friend who helped you through a difficult time, a stranger who offered an unexpected hand, or a family member who sacrificed for your well-being. That feeling of overwhelming gratitude, mixed with the realization that your own efforts are insufficient, is a powerful one.
This is the very feeling the Psalmist explores in Psalm 116. He was at death’s door, entangled by “the cords of death” and “the anguish of the grave.” He cried out to the Lord for deliverance, and the Lord saved him. Now, standing on the other side of that miraculous rescue, he asks a question we all can relate to: “What can I possibly give back to the Lord for all He has done for me?”
The Symbolic Cup
The Psalmist’s answer is profound. He doesn’t say he’ll offer up a great sacrifice or perform a grand act. Instead, he says, “I will lift up the cup of salvation.” This isn’t a literal, physical cup. It’s a powerful symbol, much like the “cup” in Psalm 16:5 that represents all that God has assigned to a person’s life.
To “lift up the cup of salvation” is to accept the gift of salvation that God freely offers. It is a posture of gratitude, a humble acknowledgment that you have nothing of equal value to give in return. The only thing you can do is gratefully receive the free and magnificent gift. The act of “lifting up” is a public declaration, a way of holding up this gift for all to see and saying, “This is what God has done for me! This is His kindness, and I gladly accept it.”
Our Response of Gratitude
Just as the Psalmist was saved from death, we have been saved from eternal condemnation. We can never repay the price Jesus paid for us on the cross. Our salvation is a free gift, purchased not with our works, but with His grace.
So, how do we “lift up the cup of salvation”?
We accept it: We open our hearts and receive the forgiveness and new life that Jesus offers.
We declare it: We live our lives in a way that reflects His goodness, publicly calling on His name
and giving Him all the glory.
We share it: We tell others about the incredible gift we’ve received, inviting them to drink from the
same cup of salvation.
We have a debt we can never repay, but we are not expected to. The Lord simply asks us to accept His gift with a grateful heart.
What is one way you can “lift up the cup of salvation” and thank God for His goodness today?
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